Volume 45, Number 3 COLORADO STATE ASSOCIATION July 2018 COLORADO

NM Lior Lapid Wins The Colorado Closed Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

From the Editor

In this issue there is a good sampling of what is going on chess wise in this great state of ours, as well as some reminiscing of past players and events. A nice mixture for your enjoyment.

One thought crossed my mind about this issue, in that if there is enough advertising, players from years past return also bringing The Colorado State Chess Association, Incorporated, is a in new blood to the various playing venues around Colorado to Section 501(C)(3) tax exempt, non-profit educational corpora- play chess. This is good to see and hear about. Nothing beats a tion formed to promote chess in Colorado. Contributions are full house of players. tax deductible. So let the word on clubs and events continue to be aggressively Dues are $15 a year or $5 a tournament. Youth (under 20) and spoken about and advertised. We all know the benefits of play- Senior (65 or older) memberships are $10. Family member- ing chess, and there is no reason for us not to be ambassadors to ships are available to additional family members for $3 off the the great game that we all know and love. regular dues. May Caissa be with you. ● Send address changes to Paul Covington.

● Send pay renewals & memberships to Jeffrey Cohen. Fred Eric Spell ● See back cover for EZ renewal form.

The Colorado Chess Informant (CCI) is the official publication k of the CSCA, published four times a year in January, April, July and October.

Articles in the CCI do not necessarily reflect the views of the In This Issue CSCA Board of Directors or its membership. 3. Board Meeting Minutes

CSCA Board of Directors CSCA Appointees 4. 2018 Colorado Closed Championship Paul Covington President: USCF Delegates: 8. 2018 Denver Open Report Dean Clow Richard “Buck” Buchanan J.C. MacNeil [email protected] [email protected] 12. Sulleiman Omar’s Denver Open Games Vice President: Paul Covington Sulleiman Omar Earle Wikle [email protected] 16. Growing Up With Chess in Colorado [email protected] Rod Schlater CCI Editor: Secretary: Fred Eric Spell 19. Amazing Interview Paul Covington [email protected] Paul Covington 20. More Memories of Robert Wendling [email protected] Colorado Chess Tour: Curtis Carlson Treasurer: Dean Clow 25. Colorado Directory Jeffrey Cohen [email protected]

[email protected] : 26. Recent Advances in Theory Representative: Klaus Johnson Colin James III Jesse Williams [email protected] 27. The Chess Detective ® [email protected] NM Todd Bardwick Scholastic Chess: Members at Large: Todd Bardwick 28. Tuesday Night Chess Todd Bardwick [email protected] Paul Anderson [email protected] 30. Tactics Time! Webmaster & Tournament Tim Brennan (Second Position Vacant) Clearinghouse: 32. Upcoming Colorado Tournaments Dean Clow [email protected] Informant Article Submission Deadlines:

January issue - December 21 / April issue - March 21 On the cover: July issue - June 21 / October issue - September 21

“NM Lior Lapid” (Email articles to [email protected])

by Paul Covington © 2018 Colorado State Chess Association

Page 2 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

Board Meeting Minutes (May 21, 2018)

This was an online meeting. It was open to everyone. Attendance was all Board members, Ann Davies and Shirley Herman.

Topics discussed:

Insurance: Discussed what CSCA should be responsible to cover. Jeff Cohen accepted the task to investigate the various costs and alternatives to present insurance.

Colorado Open: After discussion, was changed to G/90;d/5 for rounds 1 and 2 so round 3 could start at 5:00pm thus finishing earlier in the evening. The logic is that more players will play in round three if the game finishes earlier. Dean made the motion Rounds 1 and 2 will be G/90;d/5. Rounds 3, 4, and 5 will be G/90;+30. Game times will be Saturday 9:00am, 1:30pm and 5:00pm, and Sunday 9:00am and 4:00pm with the Membership meeting to be held Sunday at 2:00pm. Jeff seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 2.

Discussed the prospect of inviting Chess.com’s IM Daniel Rensch as our guest of honor. Dean will investigate and report on costs and potential benefits.

DGT Boards: Dean proposed investigating purchasing two laptops to make the DGT boards work better. He will investigate and report back.

Paul proposed purchasing three additional DGT boards to support streaming games live to gain more exposure for Colorado Chess. Tabled awaiting the results of trying to make the present DGT boards work better.

Class Championship: Discussed finances. More details when everything to pulled together. Earle Wilke was the Tournament Director. Dean and Paul was onsite and helped.

Rocky Mountain Team Chess Challenge: Because of the inability to get the match scheduled during the summer, the Board decided to cancel the event. Dean made the motion, Paul seconded and the vote was unanimous. Paul will notify New Mexico.

Day of Champions: Earle will run the blitz, Dean the other two.

Discussed Colorado Open TLA: TLA will be emailed to Board members before being summited to US Chess. Dean agreed to do this.

Scholastic Closed: Dean is trying to get a free site in Denver area. Various times and formats discussed. Decision of how and where left to Dean.

Stipends for Scholastic players who are invited to represent United States in foreign events was discussed. Board decided to handle every case individually. The final decision of whether to support a specific event and level of support will be determined by the Board. Paul assigned to write the wording and summit to the Board for markup (see below).

CSCA Board approved International Stipends

After discussion, the CSCA voted to approve stipends on a case by case basis for Scholastic players who are representing both Colorado and United States in invitational events Internationally. The amounts of the stipends depend on many factors. To qualify, scholastic players must apply to the CSCA board explaining the circumstances and the opportunity. Remember the CSCA is a non- profit and your donation to this fund is tax deductible ( with your tax advisor about current laws) and 100% of your donation will go to this project or selected player.

Meeting adjourned at 9:19pm

k

www.ColoradoChess.com Page 3 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

This Closed had many firsts but as usual 22.Be3 Bc6 23.Nc3 Qb7 24.Bc1 d5 2018 Colorado in every Closed, fighting chess was 25.Na2 Bb5 26.Qc2 e4 27.Nd4 Rec8 Closed present in every game. Special thanks to 28.Qb3 Bc4 29.Qxb7 Rxb7 30.Nb4 Ne5 everyone who helped make this Closed a 31.b3 Nd3 32.Nxd3 Bxd3 33.Be3 a5 Championship very special event! 34.Rc1 Rxc1 35.Rxc1 Bxd4 36.Bxd4 Rxb3 37.Rc3 Rb1+ 38.Kh2 Bc4 39.f3 by Paul Covington Lior Lapid (2311) Re1 40.Re3 Rd1 41.Bb6 exf3 42.Rxf3 a4 Chief Tournament Director Kevin Seidler (2137) 43.Bc5 Bd3 44.Bb4 d4 45.Rf8+ Kg7 Round 1 / April 27, 2018 46.Rd8 Bc2 47.Rxd4 Rxd4 ½-½ The fourth highest rated Colorado

Closed Championship gathered on Friday 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 Richard Shtivelband (2301) night, April 27, to start what would be an 0-0 6.Nge2 e5 7.Be3 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.h4 Kevin Seidler (2137) epic weekend battle for the title - h5 10.Nc1 c5 11.Be2 a6 12.a4 Kh7 13.g4 Round 2 / April 28, 2018 Colorado Closed Champion. All of the Qa5 14.Nb3 Qc7 15.Nd2 Rh8 16.Nf1 fifteen games were hard fought with Qa5 17.Ng3 Kg8 18.Kf2 Kf8 19.Bd2 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 many twists, turns and surprises. As the hxg4 20.fxg4 Ke8 21.g5 Nfg8 22.h5 Bf8 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 Tournament Director, I want to thank 23.hxg6 Nxg6 24.Rxh8 Nxh8 25.Qh1 9.g4 b5 10.g5 b4 11.Ncb5 axb5 12.gxf6 each player for participating and Ng6 26.Qh7 N8e7 27.Nh5 Qb6 28.Rb1 gxf6 13.Qh5 Qc5 14.Qh3 Qc7 15.Rg1 providing exciting games to study for Qb3 29.Nf6+ Kd8 30.Qxf7 Qc2 31.Ke3 Bb7 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Qxe6+ Kd8 18.e5 years to come. The crosstable shows the Nf5+ 32.exf5 Qxf5 33.Nce4 Be7 34.Ba5+ Nxe5 19.fxe5 Qe7 20.Bb6+ Ke8 results but not the intensity of the games. 1-0 21.Bxb5+ 1-0

Congratulations to Lior Lapid, the 2018 Nikhilesh Kunche (2280) Michael Mulyar (2501) Colorado Closed Champion! This was his Michael Mulyar (2501) Gunnar Andersen (2316) third title in the last four years. How does Round 1 / April 27, 2018 Round 2 / April 28, 2018 this compare to the all-time greats of 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.g3 0-0 Colorado Chess? 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.c3 d6 8.d4 Bb6 5.Bg2 d6 6.0-0 c5 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.dxc5 9.h3 0-0 10.Re1 h6 11.a4 Bb7 12.Na3 dxc5 9.Bf4 Be6 10.Ne5 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 We’ll take a stroll down memory lane. exd4 13.cxd4 Re8 14.e5 dxe5 15.dxe5 Qc8 12.Qb3 Bh3 13.Bxb7 Qf5 14.Bxf6 Multiple winners include Randy Canney Qxd1 16.Bxd1 Nd7 17.Bf4 Nd4 18.Rc1 Bxf6 15.Bxa8 Rxa8 16.Qb7 Re8 17.Rfd1 (5), Brian Wall (4), Lior Lapid (3) and Nxf3+ 19.Bxf3 Bxf3 20.gxf3 Nc5 21.a5 Bd4 18.Qf3 Qe6 19.Nd5 Bxb2 20.Nc7 Michael Mulyar (2). Randy also has the Bxa5 22.Red1 Bb6 23.Bg3 Nb3 24.Rb1 Qe5 21.Nxe8 Bxa1 22.g4 Qc3 23.Qxc3 distinction of the longest time between Rad8 25.f4 Nd4 26.Kg2 c5 27.b3 Ba5 Bxc3 24.Rd3 Be5 25.Rxh3 Kf8 26.Ra3 the first and latest win (1988 and 2014). 28.Rd3 Bb4 29.Ra1 Nf5 30.Rxd8 Rxd8 Bb8 27.Nc7 Bxc7 28.Rxa7 1-0 The earliest winner appears to be Curt 31.Nc2 a5 32.Nxb4 axb4 33.Ra5 Rb8 Carlson in 1976. This makes the “Closed” 34.Kf3 c4 35.Ke4 g6 36.Kd5 c3 37.Ra1 Kevin Seidler (2137) one of the longest annual tournaments in Rd8+ 38.Ke4 c2 39.Rc1 Rd2 40.e6 fxe6 Nikhilesh Kunche (2280) Colorado. 41.Ke5 Kf7 42.Ra1 Re2# 0-1 Round 3 / April 28, 2018

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Bb5 Nd4 After Lior Lapid, two players tied for 2nd Gunnar Andersen (2316) place: Michael and Nikhilesh with 3.5 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.0-0 Nxb5 7.Nxb5 d6 8.c4 Richard Shtivelband (2301) Nf6 9.d3 0-0 10.Qe1 a6 11.Nc3 b5 12.b3 points each. Round 1 / April 27, 2018 b4 13.Nd1 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Bf5 15.Qe2 CSCA rented the Club Chess!! facility for 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bb5 Bd6 Bxa1 16.Nb2 d5 17.Nh4 e6 18.Nxf5 exf5 the weekend. The Williams family 5.0-0 0-0 6.Re1 Re8 7.d3 a6 8.Ba4 b5 19.g4 dxc4 20.dxc4 Qd4+ 21.Kh1 Rae8 provided the players with a variety of 9.Bb3 Na5 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 b4 12.Nd5 22.Qg2 fxg4 0-1 complimentary snacks, a private rest area, g5 13.Nxg5 hxg5 14.Bxg5 Be7 15.Nxe7+ a dedicated playing area with a separate Qxe7 16.Re3 Rb8 17.Rg3 Qd6 18.Bxf6+ Gunnar Andersen (2316) viewing area for spectators. The games Kf8 19.Rg8+ 1-0 Lior Lapid (2311) Round 3 / April 28, 2018 were also broadcast live over the internet. Dean Clow worked hard to keep the DGT Lior Lapid (2311) 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Be7 4.Ngf3 Nf6 boards online and Jesse Williams added Nikhilesh Kunche (2280) 5.Bd3 c5 6.e5 Nfd7 7.c3 Nc6 8.0-0 a5 Round 2 / April 28, 2018 the video feed within the building. Earle 9.Re1 cxd4 10.cxd4 Qb6 11.a4 Nxd4 Wikle interviewed the players after their 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 12.Nxd4 Qxd4 13.Nf3 Qb6 14.Qc2 Nc5 games. The video interviews will be on 5.0-0 Bg7 6.Re1 Nh6 7.c3 0-0 8.h3 d6 15.Be3 Qb3 16.Bxh7 Bd7 17.Nd4 Qb4 the Colorado State Chess Association 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 f6 11.Nc3 Nf7 12.Be3 18.Bd3 Nxa4 19.Rec1 Nc5 20.Bf1 Rh5 website at www.ColoradoChess.com Bd7 13.Qc2 Qa5 14.Rad1 Rab8 15.Bc1 21.Ra3 b6 22.f4 g6 23.Be2 Rh4 24.Qd1 after they have been edited. Rfe8 16.a3 c5 17.dxc5 Qxc5 18.Be3 Qc7 a4 25.Nc2 Qe4 26.Bf3 Qc4 27.Be2 Qe4 19.Qe2 f5 20.Bd4 fxe4 21.Nxe4 e5 28.g3 Rh8 29.Bf3 Qc4 30.Be2 Qe4 31.b4

Page 4 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018 g5 32.bxc5 Qh7 33.Bf2 Qxh2+ 34.Kf1 14.Rfe1 Bf5 15.h3 Rd5 16.g4 Bg6 Richard Shtivelband (2301) Qh1+ 35.Bg1 Bxc5 36.Re3 Rh2 37.Qd3 17.Kh2 Rad8 18.Re3 Kh7 19.Rae1 R8d7 Nikhilesh Kunche (2280) Qg2+ 38.Ke1 Qxg1+ 39.Kd2 Bxe3+ 20.a3 f5 21.gxf5 Rxf5 22.R1e2 Bh5 Round 5 / April 29, 2018

40.Nxe3 Qxg3 41.f5 d4 42.Qxd4 Rd8 23.Re1 Rxf2+ 24.Kg1 Rxc2 25.Rxe4 Rd6 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 43.fxe6 Bxe6 0-1 26.Re6 Bf3 27.Rxd6 cxd6 28.Re7 Rg2+ 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 29.Kf1 a6 30.Rd7 Rg6 31.Ra7 Bd5 9.f4 b5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Kb1 Qb6 Michael Mulyar (2501) 32.Kf2 Bc4 33.h4 h5 34.Rc7 c5 35.b4 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.Qe1 0-0-0 14.Bd3 Kb8 Richard Shtivelband (2301) cxb4 36.axb4 Bb5 37.Kf3 Rg4 38.Ke3 d5 15.Qh4 Be7 16.Rhe1 Qa7 17.Qh5 b4 Round 3 / April 28, 2018 39.Bf6 Kh6 40.Bc3 Re4+ 41.Kf3 Be2+ 18.Ne2 d5 19.Qxf7 dxe4 20.Bc4 e5 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nf3 42.Kf2 d4 43.Bd2+ Kh7 44.Bg5 d3 21.fxe5 fxe5 22.Qe6 Qc5 23.Bxa6 e3 b5 6.b3 Bg4 7.Bd2 e6 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 24.Nc1 Rd2 25.Qc4 Qxc4 26.Bxc4 Bxg2 b4 10.Na4 Ne4 11.Bc1 Nd7 12.Bd3 f5 27.Nb3 Rxd1+ 28.Rxd1 Rf8 29.Re1 Rf3 13.0-0 Bd6 14.Qe2 0-0 15.Bb2 Rf6 30.Nc1 Bh4 31.Rg1 Rf2 32.a4 Be4 16.Bxe4 fxe4 17.f3 exf3 18.Rxf3 Rxf3 33.Rg4 Bxc2+ 34.Ka2 Bf6 35.a5 Bg6 19.Qxf3 Qg5 20.e4 Rf8 21.Qg4 Qxg4 36.Kb3 e4 37.Kxb4 Rxb2+ 38.Nb3 e2 22.hxg4 Bg3 23.exd5 exd5 24.Rc1 Bf2+ 39.Rg1 Bh4 40.Kc3 Rxb3+ 0-1 25.Kh2 Nf6 26.cxd5 cxd5 27.g5 Ne4 28.g4 Bg3+ 29.Kh1 Rf2 0-1 Lior Lapid (2311) Michael Mulyar (2501) Richard Shtivelband (2301) Round 5 / April 29, 2018

Lior Lapid (2311) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Bf4 Nc6 Round 4 / April 29, 2018 5.e3 Nf6 6.Nc3 a6 7.Bd3 Bg4 8.Nge2 e6 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Be7 4.e5 c5 5.f4 9.0-0 Be7 10.Rc1 0-0 11.Bg3 Bh5 12.f3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Nh6 7.Be3 Nf5 8.Bf2 Qb6 Bg6 13.Nf4 Bxd3 14.Nxd3 Na5 15.Qe2 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Bxc5 Qxc5 11.Qd2 Bd7 45.Rb7 Bg4 46.Kg3 Bf5 47.Rb6 Rd4 Nc4 16.b3 Nd6 17.e4 dxe4 18.fxe4 Nb5 12.Bd3 Ne3 13.Qf2 Qb6 14.Nb5 0-0 48.Bd2 Rg4+ 49.Kf2 Rxh4 50.Rxa6 19.Nxb5 axb5 20.Be5 Ne8 21.Qg4 Bf6 15.c3 f6 16.exf6 Rxf6 17.Nbd4 e5 Rh2+ 51.Ke3 Re2+ 52.Kf4 Rxd2 53.Kxf5 22.Rf3 Bxe5 23.dxe5 Rxa2 24.Rcf1 18.Nxc6 Bxc6 19.fxe5 Re8 20.Qg3 Qxb2 Rb2 54.Rd6 Rxb4 55.Rxd3 Rb5+ 56.Kf4 Qd4+ 25.Kh1 Ra1 26.Qg3 Rxf1+ 21.Rb1 Qxc3+ 22.Ke2 Rxf3 23.Qxf3 Kh6 57.Kg3 Kg5 58.Kh3 g6 59.Rg3+ 27.Rxf1 Qxe4 28.Rf4 Qd5 29.b4 f6 30.h4 Rxe5 24.Rb3 Nf1+ 0-1 Kh6 60.Ra3 Rf5 61.Kg3 Kg5 62.Kh3 h4 fxe5 31.Rxf8+ Kxf8 32.Nxe5 Nf6 33.Qc3 63.Ra4 Rf3+ 64.Kg2 Rf4 65.Ra3 Kg4 Ke7 34.Qg3 Kf8 35.Qc3 Qd1+ 36.Kh2 Nikhilesh Kunche (2280) 66.Kh2 g5 67.Kg2 Rb4 68.Ra1 Rb2+ Qd6 37.Kh1 Ke7 38.Qg3 g6 39.Qf4 Gunnar Andersen (2316) 69.Kh1 h3 70.Ra4+ Kg3 71.Ra3+ Kh4 Qd1+ 40.Kh2 Qh5 41.Kg1 Qf5 42.Qd4 Round 4 / April 29, 2018 72.Kg1 g4 73.Ra4 Re2 74.Kh1 Kg3 Qb1+ 43.Kh2 Qc1 44.Kh3 Nd5 45.Nf3

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 d3 4.Bxd3 d6 5.c4 75.Ra1 Kf3 76.Rb1 g3 77.Ra1 Rf2 Qc3 46.Qa7 Qc8 47.Kh2 Qc7+ 48.Kh1 Nf6 6.Nc3 a6 7.h3 b6 8.Be3 e6 9.Nge2 78.Ra3+ Kg4 79.Ra1 g2+ 80.Kg1 Kg3 Kd7 49.Qa1 Qc3 50.Qa8 Kc7 51.Qg8 Nbd7 10.0-0 Bb7 11.f4 Be7 12.Ng3 Qc7 81.Ra3+ Rf3 82.Re3 h2# 0-1 Qc1+ 52.Kh2 Qf4+ 53.Kh1 Nf6 54.Qxe6 13.Rc1 0-0 14.Nh5 Nc5 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 Qd6 55.Qe1 Ng4 56.Qc1+ Kb8 57.Qe1 16.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 17.Kh1 Kh8 18.b3 Rae8 Gunnar Andersen (2316) h5 58.Qe8+ Ka7 59.Qe1 Qf6 60.Qg1+ 19.Qe2 Bc6 20.Bb1 g6 21.Qd3 Qd4 Kevin Seidler (2137) Kb8 61.Qe1 Qf5 62.Qe8+ Ka7 63.Qe1 22.Qg3 Be7 23.Rcd1 Qg7 24.e5 dxe5 Round 5 / April 29, 2018 Qf4 64.Qa1+ Kb6 65.Qb1 Nf2+ 66.Kg1

25.fxe5 f5 26.exf6 Bxf6 27.Ne4 Be5 Ne4 67.Qa1 Qe3+ 68.Kh2 Qf4+ 69.Kg1 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 Nd6 70.Qc3 Nc4 71.Qc2 Qd6 72.Qf2+ 28.Qh4 Bb8 29.Ng5 Qc7 30.Qd4+ Kg8 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qc7 8.Qe2 Nbd7 31.Qg1 Qg3 32.Be4 Rxf1 33.Rxf1 Rc8 Kc7 73.Qe1 Qb6+ 74.Kh1 Qf6 75.Qg3+ 9.0-0-0 b5 10.a3 Bb7 11.g4 h6 12.Bh4 Kc8 76.Qe1 Kc7 77.Qg3+ Qd6 78.Qe1 34.Bxc6 Rxc6 35.Nf3 Rc5 36.Qe3 Qd6 Be7 13.Bg2 0-0-0 14.Bf2 Qc4 15.Qf3 d5 37.Re1 Kf7 38.Kg1 Qe7 39.Nd4 Be5 Kd7 79.Qc3 Kc7 80.Qe1 Nb6 81.Qc3+ 16.e5 Ne4 17.Bf1 Qc7 18.Be1 Nxc3 Kb8 82.Qh8+ Ka7 83.Qa1+ Na4 84.Qg1+ 40.Nc6 Rxc6 41.Qf3+ Qf6 42.Qxc6 Qf4 19.Bxc3 Nc5 20.Bd3 Kb8 21.Rhe1 Rc8 43.Qf3 Bd4+ 44.Kf1 Qxf3+ 45.gxf3 Kf6 Ka6 85.Qe1 Qc6 86.Qb1 Qe6 87.Kh2 22.Kb1 Rhd8 23.Bb4 Rd7 24.Qe3 Qb6 Ka7 88.Qg1+ Kb8 89.Qd4 Nb6 90.Qe5+ 46.Rd1 1-0 25.f5 a5 26.Bd2 Bg5 27.Qf3 Bxd2 Qxe5+ 91.Nxe5 Nd5 92.Nxg6 Nxb4 28.Rxd2 Ne4 29.Bxe4 dxe4 30.Qe3 Rcd8 93.Nf4 Nc6 94.Nxh5 b4 95.Nf4 b3 Kevin Seidler (2137) 31.Red1 b4 32.a4 Qc5 33.h4 Kc8 34.c3 Michael Mulyar (2501) 96.Nd3 Ne5 97.Nb2 Kc7 98.Kg3 Kd6 Kb8 35.cxb4 Qxb4 36.fxe6 fxe6 37.Qc3 99.Kf4 b5 100.h5 Ke6 101.h6 Kf6 102.h7 Round 4 / April 29, 2018 Qxc3 38.bxc3 e3 39.Rb2 Rd5 40.Re1 Nf7 103.Ke4 Kg7 104.Kd4 Kxh7 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d4 Bb4 Rxd4 41.cxd4 Rxd4 42.Rxe3 Ka8 43.Rb6 105.Kc3 Nd6 106.Kxb3 ½-½ 5.Bg5 exd4 6.Nxd4 h6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 Rxa4 44.Reb3 Rb4 45.R3xb4 axb4 8.Bd2 0-0 9.Bd3 d5 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 46.Rxe6 Kb8 47.Re8+ Kc7 48.Re7+ 1-0 k Nxe4 12.Bxe4 dxe4 13.Qxd8 Rxd8

www.ColoradoChess.com Page 5 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

Colorado Closed Championship Paul Covington - Chief Tournament Director

Player Rating Rd1 Rd2 Rd3 Rd4 Rd5 Points

1. Lior Lapid 2311 W6 D3 W4 W5 D2 4.0 2. Michael Mulyar 2501 W3 W4 L5 W6 D1 3.5 3. Nikhilesh Kunche 2280 L2 D1 W6 W4 W5 3.5 4. Gunnar Andersen 2316 W5 L2 L1 L3 W6 2.0 5. Richard Shtivelband 2301 L4 W6 W2 L1 L3 2.0 6. Kevin Seidler 2137 L1 L5 L3 L2 L4 0.0

Live Broadcast of Games Over the Internet (Picture courtesy of Earle Wikle)

Page 6 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

The Playing Area Lior Lapid - Kevin Seidler

Nikhilesh Kunche - Michael Mulyar Gunnar Andersen - Richard Shtivelband

(Pictures on this page courtesy of Paul Covington) www.ColoradoChess.com Page 7 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

happy to such a strong player. Mr. is not an easy feat, and it earned 2018 Denver Open Brian Wall and Mr. Lior Lapid recovered Sulleiman $325. I highly recommend Report from this upsetting 1st round, and went taking the time to read Mr. Omar's on to for 1st place along with Akshat excellent summary of his games and by J.C. MacNeil Jain. All ending up with 4 points and tournament experience following this (Reprinted With Permission winning $233.33 each. article. In a way it is a study guide for of the Denver Chess Club) players trying to improve their game, and After drawing against the strong Expert, aren’t we all. Normally the first round of a Swiss Kevin Seidler in round 4, Mr. Lapid was System tournament is an easy point for paired against Gunnar Anderson for the The combined 2nd and 3rd place prize of the top rated players. Not so this time. last round. Gunnar with 3.5 points and $275 was shared by Steve Kovach, Ryan Lior with 3. This battle between 2300 Snodgrass, and Sulleiman's brother, Regretfully, we did not reach our rated players was won by Mr. Lapid, Haroun Muellar-Omar. All ending up projected 100 players attendance for the leaving Mr. Andersen out of the money. with 4 points and they each win $91.67 2018 Denver Open, let alone exceed that Brian Wall with 3 points was paired cents. Hey Haroun, maybe your brother goal. I believe this was mainly because against his new nemesis, Richard will give you a little coaching. there is a glut of tournaments in the state, Shtivelband, who had 3.5. Brian won a and chess dollars only go so far. Still, nice game to earn his share of the 1st Incredibly, 9 players tied for the $50 with 88 players and an $1800 prize fund, place prize money. Mr. Jain, a strong U1600 prize. So, Daniel Cole, Norbert it was certainly not a bad tournament. I Expert, played excellent chess to finish Martinez, Jesse Williams, George especially liked the fact that there were at tied with the Masters. He won his share Peschke, Dean Brown, William Wolf, least 15 kids playing. It is good to see that of the money by winning a tough last Tim Mendoza, Derek Isabelle and Harsh something other than an electronic device round game against Mr. Seidler. Vishal Mali each won a whopping $5.56. can hold their attention. It is a credit to Would it really break the bank for the the parents that they realize chess is good Unfortunately in this tournament, Josh DCC to round these prizes up to the for developing young minds. Even though Bloomer was denied a half point bye for nearest dollar? they don't play themselves, they still round 4. He had requested the bye in full invest the time and expense for their kids. accordance with the bye policy stated in In the U1400 section, unrated Ruby Thank you! the TLA. The Tournament Director Krebs very nearly equaled Sulleiman would only allow a zero point bye for Omar's feat. He won all his games except Next year I would like the DCC to round 4, despite a half point being DCC for a round 4 draw with Kirk Tuesburg. If sponsor a separate Friday night event. policy. Mr. Bloomer chose to withdraw I am remembering right, Dean Clow said Where we bring in a special guest for a from the tournament. The DCC chose to that Ruby hadn't played for years. I am lecture and/or a simul. Also, of course, refund his entire entry fee as hoping this tournament win will for the guest to play in the main weekend for this injustice. encourage him to play at the DCC on tournament. If not that, then a Friday Tuesday nights. In for a $3 night blitz bughouse tournament. I can't Nikhilesh Kunche also withdrew after a vinyl , Mr. Tuesburg donated believe I just suggested blitz bughouse, round 3 loss to Sara Herman. In this his entire $100 (restricted due to being but it is fast and fun. Anything to make tournament Sara won against two Masters unrated) 1st place prize to the DCC. the premier DCC event special and not for a combined total of 580 rating points Thank you very much, Sir! just another run of the mill weekend difference worth of upset. Pretty tournament. impressive, and will bring her USCF Tianyi Evans Gu only lost to Mr. Krebs rating real close to the magic 2000 mark, and won the 2nd place prize of $175 with I sure can't complain about the strength of despite losing her other 3 games. a 4 point score. 3rd place was shared by the Open section. It saying something Daniel Kolpfer, Nicolas Torres, and when Brian Wall is the lowest rated The U2000 prize was shared by the Shiven Saxena. They finished with 3.5 Master in the section. Four of the six young Calvin DeJong and the veteran points and they each won $41.67. Other masters playing were rated over 2300. Earle Wikle. Calvin had a 140 point than Nicolas, I don't know any of these Normally the first round of a Swiss rating difference upset win over Joshua players. I do hope they can start playing System tournament is an easy point for Samuel in the last round. Earle didn't play at the DCC so I can mispronounce all the top rated players. Not so this time. I round 5, but had a 32 point upset win their names. wouldn't believe it if I wasn't looking at against William Murray in round 4. They the 1st round pairings. There was no less both finished with 2.5 points and won $25 Congratulations to all the prize winners, than 4 big upsets! each. and thanks to all the players who attended the DCC 2018 Denver Open. Next year Wow, Sara is 15 years old. Griffin and Sulleiman Omar ruled the U1800 section. we do plan to bring in a special guest for Sullivan are even younger. I don't know Taking no prisoners with a perfect 5-0 a Friday night event before the main William Murray, but I am sure he was score. Regardless of what section a player tournament. in playing in, a no loss and no draw score Page 8 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

Sampling of Games cxd4 13.Ne2 dxe4 14.dxe4 Bb7 15.Qd3 better, but I thought it is easier if I trade.) Rc8 16.Bd2 Qd7 17.Bb4 Rfd8 18.Rfd1 22...Nxc6 23.Rf4? (This is very greedy - I Akshat Jain (2174) Nc6 19.Ba3 Nb8 20.Bb3 Qc6 21.Ng3 get an extra pawn but he gets a lot of Calvin Dejong (1853) Nd7 22.Rd2 h5 23.Re1 h4 24.Nf1 Nf6 counterplay. Better was 23.Rd2! Round 1 / April 14, 2018 25.Rde2 Nh5 26.Rf2 Bh6 27.g3 Nf6 suppressing counterplay. 23...Rd8 28.Nd2 Ng4 29.Rf3 Ne3 30.Kg1 f5 24.Rxd8+ Nxd8 25.Rd1 Nc6 White is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 31.exf5 gxf5 32.Be7 Rd7 33.Bf6 Bg7 completely winning and Black has not 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nb6 7.Be3 O-O 8.Be2 f5 34.Bxg7 Kxg7 35.Kf2 ... 1–0 even one trick.) 23...Rd8 24.Rxf6 Rd2 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.e5 Be6 11.O-O Bd5 25.Rc1 Nd4 26.Rd6 Rc7 (26...Nxb3 12.Ng5 h6 13.Nxd5 hxg5 14.Nxb6 axb6 Brian Wall (2263) 27.Rxd2 Nxd2. Thought I can still win 15.Bxg5 Qxd4 16.Qb3+ Kh7 17.Qh3+ Sara Herman (1976) this position, at least the pawns are Kg8 18.Rad1 Qc5 19.Rc1 Qxe5 20.Bc4+ Round 1 / April 14, 2018 different. Still this is much worse than Rf7 21.Qb3 Nd4 22.Bxf7+ Kf8 23.Qd5 what I could've had.) 27.Ne4 (Inaccurate Ne2+ 24.Kh1 Nxc1 25.Rxc1 Qxb2 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 Be7 4.Nbd2 d5 5.e3 0–0 6.Bd3 Nbd7 7.h4 c5 8.c3 Qc7 but it seemed the most clear. He has a lot 26.Bg8 Qxa2 27.Qxa2 Rxa2 28.Bxa2 1-0 of annoying threats like ...Nxe2, ...Nxb3, 9.Qc2 Re8 10.0–0–0 c4 11.Be2 a5 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 b5 14.Nxf6+ Nxf6 15.Bxf6 in this position.) 27...Rxc1 28.Nxd2 Nxe2 Lior Lapid (2305) 29.Nf3 Rc2 30.Rd7 (Giving up one of my William Murray (2035) Bxf6 16.Ng5 h6 17.Bf3 Rb8 18.Ne4 Qf4+ 19.Qd2 Qxd2+ 20.Rxd2 Be7 queenside pawns for his f pawn - trying to Round 1 / April 14, 2018 keep pawns on both sides of the board 21.Nc5 e5 22.Bc6 Rd8 23.Re2 Bxc5 1.d4 d6 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.dxe5 dxe5 24.dxc5 f6 25.f4 Bg4 26.Bf3 Bxf3 and create some passed pawns.) 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8 6.Bc4 Be6 7.Bxe6 fxe6 27.gxf3 exf4 28.Re4 Rbc8 29.a4 Rxc5 30...Rxa2 31.Ng5 b5 32.Nxf7 a5 8.Nf3 Bd6 9.Bg5 a6 10.0–0–0 Ke7 30.axb5 Rb8 31.Rxf4 Rbxb5 32.Rd1 Rf5 33.Nh6+ Kh8?? (33...Kf8 34.Rxh7 a4 11.Ne1 Nbd7 12.Nd3 b5 13.f3 Rhb8 33.Rdd4 Rxf4 34.Rxf4 Rc5 35.Kc2 Kf7 35.Rf7+ Ke8 36.bxa4 bxa4 37.Ra7 - this 14.Bh4 a5 15.a4 c6 16.g4 h6 17.Bg3 b4 36.b4 cxb3+ 37.Kxb3 Ke6 38.c4 g5 looked winning to me.) 34.g4+– (Now his 18.Nb1 b3 19.Nd2 bxc2 20.Kxc2 Nb6 39.hxg5 fxg5 40.Rf8 Rf5 41.Rxf5 Kxf5 is under attack.) 34...Nf4+ 35.Kg3 21.Bxe5 Bxe5 22.Nxe5 Rc8 23.Ndc4 42.Ka4 Ke6 43.Kxa5 Kd7 44.Kb6 Kc8 Ne6 36.Re7 Re2 37.g5! Nd4 38.Ra7 Re8 Nxc4 24.Nxc4 Nd7 25.Rd2 Rf8 26.Rhd1 45.Kc5 h5 46.Kd4 h4 47.Ke3 Kc7 48.Kf2 39.h4 Nxb3?? (Followed by a draw Ra7 27.b3 g5 28.Rd6 c5 29.R1d3 Rb8 Kc6 49.Kg2 Kc5 50.Kh3 Kxc4 51.f4 gxf4 offer.)(39...b4 40.h5 Nc6 41.Rc7 Ne7 30.Nxa5 Rxa5 31.Rxd7+ Kf6 32.Rh7 c4 0–1 42.f4 - he is in , almost 42...Kg7 33.bxc4 Rxa4 34.Rxh6+ Ke5 35.h4 Ra2+ 43.f5) 40.h5 Nc5 41.g6 hxg6 42.hxg6 36.Kc3 Rab2 37.c5 ½–½ Neil Hendren (1264) (Mate is unstoppable.) 1–0 Ruby Kerbs (Unrated) Griffin McConnell (2018) Round 2 / April 14, 2018 Sara Herman (1976) Nikhilesh Kunche (2307) Nikhilesh Kunche (2307) Round 1 / April 14, 2018 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 Round 3 / April 14, 2018

5.d3 d6 6.h3 b5 7.Bb3 Na5 8.0–0 Nxb3 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 9.axb3 Be7 10.b4 0–0 11.Nc3 Bb7 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bb5 Nd4 6.0–0 Nxb5 7.Nxb5 d6 8.Qe2 12.Bg5 Nd7 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Qd2 h6 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 c5 7.Bc4 Bg7 8.Ne2 a6 9.Nc3 Nh6 10.d3 0–0 11.Bd2 b5 15.Ne2 f5 16.Ng3 f4 17.Nf5 Qf6 18.c3 Nc6 9.Be3 0–0 10.0–0 cxd4 11.cxd4 Na5 12.Rab1 b4 13.Nd5 e6 14.Ne3 f5 15.e5 Kh7 19.g3 g6 20.N5h4 g5 21.Nf5 h5 12.Bd3 b6 13.Rc1 e6 14.f4 f5 15.e5 Bb7 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nf7 17.Nc4 Bb7 18.c3 a5 22.Kg2 c5 23.bxc5 Nxc5 24.Qc2 d5 16.Nc3 Rc8 17.Nb5 Qd5 18.Qe2 a6 19.a3 b3 20.Be3 Rc8 21.Bf2 a4 22.Rbd1 25.b4 dxe4 26.Nxg5+ Qxg5 27.Nd6 19.Nd6 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 b5 21.Rc5 Qxg2+ g5 23.h3 h5 24.h4 g4 25.Ng5 Qd5 26.Bg3 exd3+ 0–1 22.Qxg2 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Rd8 24.Bd2 Nc4 Nxg5 27.hxg5 Rcd8 28.Nd6 Ba8 29.d4 25.Bxc4 bxc4 26.Rxc4 Bf8 1–0 Rxd6 30.exd6 cxd4 31.c4 Qe4 32.Qxe4 Gunnar Andersen (2314) Bxe4 33.g6 Rd8 34.c5 d3 35.Rd2 Bh6 Rhett Langseth (2130) Vedanth Sampath (1670) 36.Rdd1 Kg7 37.Rfe1 Kxg6 38.Rxe4 Round 3 / April 15, 2018 Akshat Jain (2174) fxe4 39.c6 Be3+ 40.Kh1 Bb6 41.c7 Rf8 (Notes by Gunnar Andersen) Round 3 / April 14, 2018 42.d7 e3 43.c8Q e2 44.Qe8+ Kg5 (Notes by Akshat Jain)

45.Qe7+ Rf6 46.Bh4+ Kxh4 47.Qxf6+ 1.Nf3 (Prepared specifically for this opponent, do not usually like 1.Nf3.) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 Kg3 1–0 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.h3 1...d6 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 4.d4 Nbd7 5.c4 e5 6.0–0 Be7 7.Nc3 0–0 8.Qc2 exd4 (This is an interesting line that has Sullivan McConnell (2025) become more popular recently. The idea Josh Bloomer (2346) 9.Nxd4 Re8 10.Rd1 Ne5 11.b3 Bg4 12.h3 Bd7 13.Nf5 Qc8? 14.Nxe7+ is to play Be3 without having to deal with Round 1 / April 14, 2018 the idea of Bg4, pinning the on f3.) (White is much better.) 14...Rxe7 15.Kh2 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 d5 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.Bg5 d4 18.Rxd4 8...0–0 9.Rb1 (This is slightly inconsis- 5.Bb5 Nd4 6.0–0 a6 7.Bc4 e6 8.a4 Ne7 Bc6 19.Bxf6 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Qc6+ tent. Better would have been to go Be3.) 9.d3 d5 10.Ba2 0–0 11.Kh1 b6 12.Nxd4 21.Qe4 gxf6 22.Qxc6 (22.Nd5! this is 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 Qa5+ 11.Qd2 (11.Bd2 !? 11...Qxa2 12.Be2 b6 13.0–0 www.ColoradoChess.com Page 9 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

Bb7 - A line like this would have been Rhett Langseth (2130) maybe play ... Qg4xh5 if Rhett moves his rather interesting as well, where we will Brian Wall (2263) knight.) 28.gxf3?? ((2 minutes spent on have to see whether or not the inclusion Round 4 / April 15, 2018 this greedy . -3.25)(28.Rfe1 Qg4!! of 8.h3 0–0 will benefit White or Black.) (One of the best games of my life, 29.Qc1 -.6 29...Bg8; a) 29...Rf6; b) 11...Qxd2+ 12.Bxd2 b6 (Now I think that although of course, the computer says I 29...Rf8; c) 29...a5; d) 29...Bf8; e) it is safe to say that we have reached a missed stuff. - Brian Wall) 29...Rf7; f) 29...Rd6; g) 29...Kg8; h) position where Black is not worse. This is 1.Nf3 c5 2.d3 Nc6 3.Nbd2 e5 4.e4 g6 29...Bf5; i) 29...Rxg3 30.fxg3 Bf5 a position very similar to the lines that 5.Be2 (I recently sent Rhett Langseth (30...Qxg3 +.4)) 28...exf3!! 29.Kh2! come about in the Rb1 lines in the some new books to help with his Rhetti (Only Move.) 29...Qg4!! 30.Rh1! (Only Grunfeld. The only difference is that opening which he has played for 12 Move.) 30...Rxe3!! (3.25)(30...Bf5!!; White has played h3 and Black has years.) 5...Bg7 6.Nc4 d6 7.Bd2 Nge7 30...e4!!) 31.Qc1! (Only Move.) castled, which can only help Black.) 8.a4 f5 9.Qc1 h6 (My pieces are too 31...Re2!! (+4)(31...Bf5!!; 31...Rd3!!; 13.Be3 Bb7 14.Bd3 Rd8 15.Rd1?! (This magnificent to trade as you will soon 31...Re4!!) 32.Qf1! (Only Move.) move simply wastes time misplaying a see.) 10.h4 Be6 11.b3 d5 (+1) 12.Ne3 32...Rd2!! (Best move took 7 minutes. piece. Better would have been to castle fxe4 13.dxe4 dxe4 (I blundered a pawn. Time left - Rhett 18:37 + a 30 second and then bring the other to d1.) Rhett doubled isolated pawns on an open increment - Brian 12:01 + a 30 second 15...Nc6 16.Bb1 e6 17.0–0 Rac8 file might just fall unless I find some increment 4.25) 33.Kg1 (Only Move.) (Although the computer does not evaluate super creative uses for them.) 14.Nh2 33...e4!! (+4 Best move took 3 minutes Black's advantage to be large here, Nf5 15.Nhf1 Qe7 (15...Qf6!!) 16.h5 g5 leaving me with 9.) 34.Qb5 (34.Qc4 pratically, I felt that this was already (16...Qf6!!) 17.Nxf5! (I was sad to see a Bd4!! mating. (34...Re2!! +12; 34...Be5!! excellent for me. The reason for this is knight go because they work so well with +9 35.Qf7 Bd6; 34...e3!? +.77 35.Qxg4 that Black’s play is very natural with the .) 17...Bxf5 18.Ng3 Bh7 exf2+ 36.Kf1 Bd3+ 37.Ne2 Rxe2 38.Qxf3 idea to go Na5 followed by Nc4 to trade 19.Be3 0–0 20.Qa3 Nd4 21.Bc4+ Kh8 Rd2+ 39.Qxd3 Rxd3 - When I off one of White’s bishops. White’s plan is 22.Rc1 Rad8 (I planned my knight enthusiastically showed this variation to much harder to decipher. He can’t move for 7 minutes here.) 23.c3 b6!! a crowd someone said, “Watch your the rook off of d1 without losing the d4 (Played instantly which put Rhett into language, Brian. There are children pawn, he cant move the on e3 or sacrificial shock. An even more amazing present.” “They are all children the knight on f3 without losing the pawn, move shows up later.) 24.Qb2 (24.cxd4?? compared to me!!” I replied. Best line of and his bishop on b1 and rook on f1 are -2.5 Unleashes the full wrath of my the 2018 Denver Open - LM Josh both horribly misplaced with nowhere to doubled pawns. 24...exd4 25.Bd2 -7) a) Bloomer.) 35.cxd4 e3 36.Qf1 Bd3 37.Re1 go.) 18.Rc1? (This fails to put up any 25.Nf1 -2.5 25...g4 (25...Be5; 25...Qd7; Qxg3+ 38.fxg3 f2+ 39.Kh2 fxe1Q+ kind of resistance.) 18...Nxd4 19.Nxd4 25...dxe3; 25...Rd6); b) 25.0–0 -2.6 40.Qg2 Rxg2+ 41.Kxg2 Qe2+ 42.Kh3 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 Bxd4 21.Bxd4 Rxd4 22.f3 25...dxe3 (25...Qe5); 25...e3 (25...Rxf2!! Be4 43.dxc5 Qxh5#) 34...Qd7 (+3 I Ba6 23.Kf2 Rd2+ 24.Kg3 Kg7 25.e5 h5 +7 26.Kxf2 (26.Rf1 Rxg2 7.77) 26...e3+ I figured RRN = RBB so the endgame 26.h4 Re2 27.f4 Bb7 28.Rc2 Re1 29.Rc7 showed this to Rhett in the post-mortem should be fine for me.)(34...Rd7!! +7; Bd5 30.Bd3 Re3+ 0–1 27.Kg1 (27.Ke1 exd2+ 28.Kxd2 Qe3+ 34...Bg8!! +7; 34...Qc8!! +5; 34...Rd8!! 29.Kd1 -8.5 29...d3 (29...Qxg3)) 27...exd2 +5 Rhett; 34...Qe6!! +6; 34...Bf6!! +4; Steve Kovach (1716) 28.Rf1 d1Q 29.Rxd1 Qe3+ 30.Kh2 Be5 34...Re2!! +3) 35.Qxd7! Rxd7!! 36.Rc1! J.C. MacNeil (1626) 31.Rhf1 Qxg3+ 32.Kg1 Qh2+ 33.Kf2 Rd3!! 37.Kh2 Bxc3!! (3.33) 38.Rhd1! Round 4 / April 15, 2018 Qh4+ 34.Kg1; a) 34.Ke2 Qe4+ 35.Kf2 Bd4!! 39.Rxd3 exd3!! 40.Kg1 d2 (+3) (Notes by J.C. MacNeil) 41.Rd1! (Only Move.) 41...Bc3!! 42.Nf1! (35.Kd2 Qe3#) 35...Qe3#; b) 34.g3 1.e4 c5 2.Be2 e6 3.f4 Qc7 4.d3 Nc6 Qxg3+ 35.Ke2 Qe3#; 34...Bh2+ 35.Kh1 (Only Move.) 42...Bc2 (Pawn Wave Guy.) 5.Nf3 d6 6.0–0 Nf6 7.c3 Bd7 8.Kh1 h6 Bg3+ 36.Kg1 Qh2#) 24...Ne6 (24...Nf5; 43.Rxd2! (Only Move.) 43...Bxd2!! 9.a3 Be7 10.Be3 Ng4 11.Bg1 g5 12.h3 24...Qd7; 24...g4 was a concept Rhett and 44.Nxd2! Kg7! 45.Kh2! Kf6! 46.Kg3! Nf6 13.fxg5 hxg5 14.Nxg5 Rg8 15.Be3 I discovered after the game. The idea is Bd1!! (+4 Time left - Rhett 7:16 + a 30 0–0–0 16.b4 d5 17.Qe1 Rg7 18.Qf2 after White castles to play ... Qh4 and second increment - Brian 6:03 + a 30 Rdg8 19.Rg1 d4 20.Bd2 Nh7 21.Nxh7 something to f3.) 25.Bxe6 Qxe6 (+.7 I second increment.) 47.Kg4 Ke5!! (5.55) Rxh7 22.b5 Bh4 23.Qf1 Ne5 (23...Na5 is was sad to see my last knight go because 48.Nc4+ Kd4!! 49.a5 Bxb3!! (+6) better, planning ...Nb3 and avoiding they work so well with doubled pawns.) 50.axb6! axb6!! 51.Nxb6! c4 52.Kxf3 Steve's next move. It starts to go downhill 26.0–0! Rd3! (Still finding uses for the e4 Bd1+!! (Mating) 53.Kg2! c3!! 54.Nc8! for me from here.) 24.Bf4 Bg3 25.Nd2 pawn.) 27.Ra1 Rf3!! (+.8 Maximum use c2!! 55.Nd6 c1Q!! 56.Nf5+! Ke4! Bxf4 26.Qxf4 dxc3 27.Nc4 f6 28.a4 of the e4 pawn!!)(27...a5!! +.8 Was the 57.Ng3+! Kf4!! 58.f3! Bxf3+! 59.Kh3!! Nxc4 29.Qxc7+ Kxc7 30.dxc4 Rg3 (At type of normal move I was inspecting Qe3!! 60.Nf1 Qe1 61.Kh2!! Qf2+!! this point we both stopped keeping score. when I suddenly got inspired. Time left 62.Kh3! g4# 0–1 Mr. Kovach completely outplayed me the Rhett 22:16 + a 30 second increment / rest of the game. Trading off everything Brian 33:07 + a 30 second increment. I and winning by queening his “g” pawn used 8 minutes here and got down to with fine technique.) ... 1–0 25:34. My plan was to take on e3/g3 or

Page 10 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

Griffin McConnell (2018) 33.Kg3 Be3 34.a4 Bg1 35.Rb7 Be3 knight.) 16.Nxd5 Qxd4+ 17.Be3 Qxb2? Akshat Jain (2174) 36.Rdc7 Bg1 37.Rd7 Be3 38.Kf3 Bg1 (This loses the . Better was Qxd1 Round 4 / April 15, 2018 39.g5+ hxg5 40.fxg5+ Kxg5 41.Rxf7 although the endgame is still completely

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 Rxf7+ 42.Rxf7 Kxh5 43.Rxg7 e5 44.Ke4 lost. 17...Qxd1 18.Nxe7+ Kh8 19.Rfxd1) 5.Bb5 Nd4 6.0–0 a6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Nxd4 Kh4 45.Kd5 Kh3 46.Rg5 Bf2 47.Kxe5 18.Bd4 Qa3 19.Rf3 Qxf3 20.Nxe7+ Kh8 cxd4 9.Ne2 Nf6 10.b3 0–0 11.Bb2 e5 Kh4 48.Rg2 Bc5 49.Kd5 Kh5 50.Kc4 21.Bxf3 Rd8 22.Nxc8 Raxc8 23.Bxb7 12.Qe1 b5 13.c3 dxc3 14.Bxc3 Bb7 Kh4 51.Kb5 Kh5 52.Rc2 Be3 53.Rc6 Rc4 24.Bxa6 Rcxd4 25.Qf3 g5 26.fxg5 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.Bxe5 Qxd3 17.Bxf6 Kg5 54.Rxb6 Bd2 55.Ra6 Kf5 56.Rxa5 Bxe5 27.Re1 Bg7 28.Qxf7 Rf8 29.Re8 Qxe4 18.Qg3 Bxf6 19.Rxf6 Qxe2 Bxa5 57.Kxa5 Ke6 58.b4 Kd6 59.b5 Kc7 Rd8 30.Rxd8 Rxd8 31.g3 1–0 20.Raf1 Rad8 21.R6f2 Qd3 22.Qg5 Qd4 60.Kb4 Kb7 61.a5 Ka7 62.Kc5 Kb7 23.h4 Rd5 24.Qe7 Rd7 25.Qg5 Ba8 63.a6+ Ka7 64.b6+ Kxa6 65.Kc6 1–0 Brian Wall (2263) 26.Kh2 Rd5 27.Qe7 Qe5+ 28.Qxe5 Rxe5 Richard Shtivelband (2308) 29.d4 Re4 30.Rd2 Rd8 31.Rc1 Kg7 0–1 Gunnar Andersen (2314) Round 5 / April 15, 2018 Lior Lapid (2305) (Notes by Brian Wall)

Ayush Vispute (1162) Round 5 / April 15, 2018 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 (Notes by Gunnar Anderson) Tianyi Evans Gu (1350) 5.Qb3 Ne4 6.Bf4 d5 7.e3 Nd7 8.Nbd2 Round 4 / April 15, 2018 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.a3 f6 Nxd2 9.Nxd2 (I considered 9.Kxd2 for a

1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.Nf3 d6 4.d5 Nce7 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.Qh5+ Kd7 8.cxd4 g6 long time.) 9...Be7 10.Bd3 c4 11.Qxb6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Be3 g6 7.Qd2 h6 8.0–0–0 9.Qd1 fxe5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Bb5+ Kc7 axb6 12.Be2 b5 13.e4 b4 14.Bf3 Ra5 Ng4 9.h3 Nxe3 10.Qxe3 h5 11.Nb5 a6 12.Bf4 Bd6 13.Nc3 a6 14.Rc1 Nc6 (Richard has been blitzing out his moves 12.Qa3 Bd7 13.Qxd6 Bh6+ 14.Kb1 cxd6 15.Bxd6+ Qxd6 16.Nf3? (16.Bxc6! - I on the increment.) 15.Ke2 b6 16.exd5 15.Nxd6+ Kf8 16.Nxe5 Be8 17.Nxb7 saw this idea, but apparently it was best exd5 17.cxb4 Bxb4 18.a3 Be7 19.b4 Qb6 18.d6 Qxb7 19.dxe7+ Qxe7 20.Rd5 here. I think I thought that I needed to cxb3 20.Nxb3 Rb5 (Self trapping his Bg7 21.f4 f6 22.Nf3 Qxe4 23.Rd4 Qb7 develop my kingside more 16...bxc6 rook, rather than dropping the d5 pawn, 24.b3 Bc6 25.Be2 Re8 26.Re1 f5 27.Rd6 17.Qd4 e5 18.Nxd5+! Kb8 19.Qb6+ Bb7 but also now my king has good flexibility Bxf3 28.gxf3 Bc3 29.Red1 Rxe2 20.Ne2+–) 16...Bd7 17.Bxc6 Bxc6 about where to move to allow Be2.) 30.Rd8+ Re8 31.Rxe8+ Kxe8 32.Rf1 18.Qd4 Ne7 19.Na4 Rae8 20.Qb6+ Kb8 21.Rhb1 (Richard started taking time Qb4 33.Re1+ Bxe1 34.h4 Qa3 35.c4 Rh7 21.Nc5 Qd8 22.Nxa6+ Kc8 23.Qa7??–+ now.) 21...g5 22.Bd2 Nf6 (With the idea 36.Kc2 Rd7 37.c5 Rd2+ 38.Kc3 Qxc5# (Very sick and disappointing.)(23.Qb5!; of 23...g4 trapping the bishop.) 23.Ke1 0–1 23.Qxd8+ - Of course I looked at this, but (Having none of that.) 23...Ne4 24.Be2 I thought that Qa7 was better because I Bd7 25.Bxb5 Bxb5 26.Nc5 Nd6 27.Nb7 Jesse Williams (1568) blundered Qa5+ 23...Rxd8 24.Nc5±) Bd3 28.Nxd6+ Bxd6 29.Rxb6 Kd7 Andrew Starr (1783) 23...Qa5+ (23...bxa6 - Even this isnt that 30.Rb7+ Ke6 31.Bxg5 Rg8 32.Be3 Rxg2 Round 4 / April 15, 2018 great, just a total failure on my part to 33.Kd2 Be4 34.Rc1 f5 35.Rc6 f4 evaluate correctly.) 24.b4 Qxa6 25.Qc5 36.Rbb6 fxe3+ 37.Kxe3 Rxh2 38.Rxd6+ 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0–0 Kb8 26.Qd6+ Ka8 27.Nd4 Nf5 0–1 Kf5 39.Rh6 Rxh6 40.Rxh6 Kg5 41.Rd6 5.e3 c5 6.Nge2 Nc6 7.0–0 Ne5 8.d3 Rb8 Kg4 42.a4 h5 43.a5 1–0 9.b3 b6 10.d4 cxd4 11.exd4 Neg4 12.Bf4 Akshat Jain (2174) d6 13.Qc1 Nh5 14.Bd2 f5 15.h3 Ngf6 Kevin Seidler (2159) k 16.Bh6 Bb7 17.d5 Re8 18.Nd4 Bxh6 Round 5 / April 15, 2018 19.Qxh6 Ng7 20.Rfe1 Qc8 21.Ne6 Nxe6 (Notes by Akshat Jain) (Final Standings can be found here: 22.Rxe6 Bxd5 23.Bxd5 Nxd5 24.Rxg6+ https://tinyurl.com/y8hkws28) hxg6 25.Qxg6+ Kf8 26.Qh6+ Kf7 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.Nxd5 Qe6 29.Nf4 1–0 5.Bd2 Nb6 6.e3 Bg7 7.f4 (Although this may seem strange from white, this is Davin Yin (1727) actually a viable attempt at getting an Jose Magno (1758) opening advantage.) 7...a5 (This is a Round 4 / April 15, 2018 decent attempt with the idea of playing Na6 and following it up with c5. 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 Nc6 4.cxd4 d5 Additionally, a5 may allow black to place 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Nc3 Bxf3 some presure on white's queenside if it is 8.Nxd5 Bxd1 9.Nc7+ Kd7 10.Nxa8 Bc2 allowed to a4 and a3.) 8.Nf3 Na6 9.Be2 11.d5 Ne5 12.Bb5+ Kc8 13.Bf4 Nd3+ 0–0 10.0–0 c5 11.Nb5 Nd5 12.e4 Nf6 14.Bxd3 Bxd3 15.Rc1+ Kd8 16.Nc7 Nf6 13.e5 Nd5 14.Nc3 (Probably not the most 17.Kd2 Be4 18.f3 Bxd5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 accurate. Instead Rc1 would have been 20.Be3 b6 21.Ke2 Nxe3 22.Kxe3 e6 better.) 14...cxd4 15.Nxd4 Qb6?? (A 23.Rhd1+ Ke7 24.Rc7+ Kf6 25.Rdd7 complete oversight on the part of Kevin. I (www.DenverChess.com) Bc5+ 26.Ke4 Rf8 27.g4 a5 28.h4 h6 29.f4 can only assume that he forgot that the Bf2 30.h5 Bc5 31.b3 Bb4 32.Kf3 Bc5 bishop on e3 would be defended by the www.ColoradoChess.com Page 11 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

White pushes pawns for 6 moves while I develop rapidly. Dean Sulleiman Omar’s Superb opted against this sort of continuation.) 6...a6 7.Bxd7+ Qxd7 Commentary & Analysis 8.Ne2 e6 9.dxe6 Bxe6 (The main line here goes 6...e6 but thankfully, after reading up on the line, I saw that my choice a6 I came to the Denver Open this year for the second consecutive was also quite playable.) 10.b3 0–0–0 11.0–0 h6 (I found this to year with considerably more over-the-board experience and be the first inaccuracy. Dean did not want to push d5 right away hoping to expand on my good performance in 2017, when I and permanently give up the c5 square, as that would play right shared 2nd place in the U1400 section. This year, however, I into my hands. However, in this variation, I do know that you faced a considerably greater challenge playing in the U1800 cannot weaken your dark squares so terminally and expect to instead, so theoretically I needed to improve my play by at least castle hassle-free. In this game, Dean paid for this extra 400 rating points. Thankfully the tournament was held much securing of his center in the form of rampant dark-squared closer to where I live this year, so the stress of traveling back weaknesses and crippling development lag.) 12.Ba3 g5 13.Bxf8 and forth for two days was practically non-existent and I could Rhxf8 (I saw this as a weak move. Another key idea in these focus on my chess instead. This year the formidable Daniel variations for Black is to pick off White’s dark-squared bishop, Ruvins held top seed with a rating of 1777. Whereas last year I and it usually involves an exchange sacrifice. Here, Dean gets was near the bottom of the pack going into a U1400 rated 937, my dark squared attacker for his own defender, but it does not this year I was in the top half coming in at 1704. I expected to solve the problems of his exploitable weaknesses. Additionally, have better games and an easier first half of the tournament, and Dean isn’t ready to play d5 yet and his center needs to be my expectation pretty accurate. This year I was quite determined supported with something like Be3, after which I would have had to contend for first-place in my section. So for two weeks prior problems developing my bishop. Dean solved my problems and to the tournament, I got to work essaying openings, penning still remains unable to play d5 due to his development issues.) through hundreds of games in Chessbase, and answering the major questions in my opening repertoire. For almost two months I completely abandoned playing online blitz chess (and even weekly over-the-board long games) and instead focused on improving my understanding of the game.

I’ll quickly chronicle the five games which helped me finish undefeated and win clear first in my section, 5-0.

My first test was against Dean Brown, a player from the Colorado Springs area who was a strong opponent:

Dean Brown (1540) Sulleiman Omar (1698) Round 1 / April 14, 2018

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Bg4 (As I like to do, I challenged Dean 14.g4 h5 15.h3 hxg4 (So Dean wants to play d5, but this move is immediately with the , Portuguese wrong for a couple reasons. First of all, d5 is not threatened Variation. Although it is an unsound defense for Black, I am of because the pawn is pinned to the pieces behind it, since Dean the belief that if theory does not exist on a line which appeals to still hasn’t connected his rooks on move 14. Secondly, g4 is an you, it is up to you to go research the lines and make your own obscene weakening of the king’s position, magnifying Dean’s theory. We have such powerful tools in this day and age that we dark squared weaknesses and giving me a hook on the fourth can basically play any line, prepare for the variations, and use rank to immediately begin my kingside attack. He must have our minds to understand the resulting positions and plans. believed he was trapping my bishop but when I calmly Thankfully, Australian David Smerdon has done responded with the attacking move ...h5, Dean began to see that the bulk of the work in exploring the murky waters of the d5 was not viable and his king was in trouble. In a way, I got Scandinavian with 2...Nf6, but admittedly I have not had ample what I wanted out of the opening, which is to get White to push time to dedicate to his book while I was studying other openings. pawns instead of developing pieces. These complications are a So I’ve played the openings with Black imperfectly but ended up direct result.) 16.fxg4 (Is an interesting way to capture, but I with good results simply because I understood the general had already calculated all of this before I pushed h5. I continued ideas.) 4.f3 Bf5 (The most critical response. I had a sudden urge with the fun bishop sacrifice: ...Bxg4. Dean saw that his king to smile when I finally had an opponent willing to play what is a would be totally compromised if he recaptured with his h-pawn sort of direct refutation of this defense but requires a high and tried to complicate matters with the intermezzo 17.Rxf6, but degree of precision from the refuter. This is where I planned to I had already calculated this line and in the end he loses an notch my wins in this tournament.) 5.Bb5+ Nbd7 6.c4 (Is a exchange to a triple with both rooks and the king. And of variation which I unfortunately did not get to study over the last course all of this action happens on (you guessed it) the dark two weeks. It’s another critical variation rather than 5.c4 which squares. After the dust settled, Dean realized his position was on would have given me exactly the kind of game I want where the verge of total collapse and gracefully resigned on move 21.)

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16...Bxg4 17.Rxf6 Bxe2 18.Qxe2 Qxd4+ 19.Qf2 Qxa1 William O'Neil (1623) 20.Qf5+ Kb8 21.Kg2 Qxa2+ 0–1 Sulleiman Omar (1698) Round 3 / April 14, 2018

My next opponent was the interesting character William Wolf, 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.dxe6 Bxe6 5.b3 (Although this who I’d played at last year’s Denver Open. At the time, he out- lines is not detailed in Smerdon’s book, I have faced it enough to ranked me by several hundred points and decided to take a nap have done some research. My analysis prior to this tournament in his hotel room after hitting the clock on the first move. After a showed that the best response is the multipurpose 5…Bc5, piling hyper-aggressive Reti against my quiet French, he found up on f2 and preventing d4.) 5...Bc5 6.Nf3 Ng4 (An inaccuracy. himself in a very losing position, but I blundered a complicated Here I should have played Ne4 and not Ng4. It’s important in position and settled for a draw by perpetual. No doubt this year the coming complications to have the knight influencing White’s he sat at the board eager for revenge, but his chance was short- queenside dark squares since they have been weakened by b3. lived. The open e-file is not an immediately exploitable asset.) 7.d4 Sulleiman Omar (1698) Bb4+ 8.Bd2 Nc6 9.d5 (Although this looks like it’s dropping a William Wolf (1405) piece, it’s in fact normal in these lines to allow this piece fork. Round 2 / April 14, 2018 The crucial difference was that my knight should have been on

(William sat across the board from me this year in a totally the stronger square e4, so at this point my opening choices are different position. This time I outranked him by a few hundred put into question.) 9...Bc5 10.Be3 Nxe3 11.fxe3 Qf6 12.Nbd2 points. I sat next to him in the first round and saw him play a Nb4 13.Ne4 (A strong move, and the strong square where my very solid Sicilian Defense and notch a hard-earned victory in a knight should have been. I had assumed that Bill’s knight on d2 pretty long game. I thought to myself - perhaps he’s playing was obligated to stay in the defense of his king, but this is a more solid chess now and scrapped all the sharp, blitzey stuff. strong piece fork that leaves me with three attacked pieces.) So my plan right away was to lure him into an extremely sharp, tactically poisonous game. For the first time in tournament play, I played the , and just as I thought, he played the most aggressive line which I had studied in great detail just the night before the tournament.) 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 c5 4.f3 Qa5+ 5.c3 g5 (The correct response here is 5...Nf6. This idea with g5, although common in many lines against the Trompowsky, is absolutely wrong here and drops a piece. Critical is that Black’s 3rd move c5 gives White a target on b8 with which to liquidate his bishop in the case of g5, so the counterattack against the bishop doesn’t work. William didn’t see this and in an astounding 2 minutes of play slammed his king against the board and extended his hand, exclaiming aloud in the silent room that he doesn’t want to play a piece down. I shook his hand, chuckled, and put away my set.) 6.Bxb8 Nxc3 7.Nxc3 Rxb8 1–0 13...Qxa1 (Thankfully I had this resource. The knight fork on c2 regains the queen.) 14.Nxc5 Nc2+ (In this sequence I am able to Perhaps the most controversial of my 5-0 performance this liquidate the pieces and win a rook and two pawns for the two tournament. Bill and I have played before and remain friendly pieces, a common imbalance.) 15.Kd2 Qxd1+ 16.Kxd1 Nxe3+ regulars of the Denver Chess Club. In the 3rd round, time 17.Ke2 Nxd5 18.cxd5 Bxd5 19.Kf2 b6 20.Na4 0–0–0 21.Ba6+ control should have been changed to increment instead of delay. Kb8 22.Ne5 (I felt like this was an inaccuracy. Bill lost a For whatever reason it slipped my mind and I set the clock to and had to move his knight back to f3, giving me extra time to delay, clueless about the different requirements for round 3. mobilize my kingside pawns.) 22...f6 23.Nf3 Bc6 24.Nc3 g5 Regardless, Bill did not verify anything wrong with the clock 25.h3 h5 26.Rc1 (Although this looks like an aggressive move, I until he flagged on move 41 in a worse position. After speaking felt very relieved that Bill gave me g4 here. I think this is where with the Tournament Director, it was determined that I could he started to lose the game.) 26...g4 27.Nh4 gxh3 28.gxh3 offer a but that the result would stand since Rd2+ 29.Ke3 (The king is too bold against the two rooks.) both players consented to play by not bringing up a complaint in 29...Rh2 30.Bf1 Re8+ 31.Kd4 (At this point I started to look for the early stages of the game. Bill felt penalized by my ignorance a mating net. I was happy to see after engine analysis that I had of the time control change and asked if I wanted a draw. After played an almost perfect middle game.) 31...Rd2+ 32.Kc4 a5 some consideration, I declined in light of the fact that Bill shared 33.Ng6 Red8 (Threatening mate on d4. b4 looks forced.) 34.b4 the blame for not verifying the clock setting at the beginning of R8d4+ 35.Kb3 Be8 36.Ne7 Bf7+ 37.Ka4 axb4 (An unfortunate the game. We both had the same amount of time and played blunder. Foolishly, I had tunnel vision here and didn’t even what was a pretty good game of chess where I came out with a consider that Bill had a knight fork on c6. Much better was the better position and a 33-minute time advantage. It’s probably devastating 37...Rxb4+. Although this slowed me down, even one of my more interesting games in this tournament. down a piece I was still in a winning position since Bill’s pieces were all passive and he was stuck in a sort of Zugzwang. His

www.ColoradoChess.com Page 13 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018 knight is stuck guarding the d4 square, his rook is stuck won the bishop on c6 clean, and more importantly put an guarding the knight, his bishop is confined to staying on the a6- annoying blockade on c6 with my queen. Tim resigned and I had g1 diagonal, and his king is practically stalemated. I think I can 4 out of 4.) 14.a3 Be7 15.Qxc6 1–0 just push my other and Bill hasn’t got any play. He flagged on move 43.) 38.Nc6+ Kb7 39.Nxd4 bxc3 40.Nc2 This was perhaps the most critical game of the tournament for c5 41.a3 Kc6 42.Bb5+ Kb7 0–1 me. With 4 points in the 5th round I was pretty much guaranteed to take home some prize money, but in order to win clear first I Going into round 4, I looked at the standings and saw that the had to at least draw this game. However, it was super tempting underrated Timothy Mendoza was crushing it, upending much to go for the 5th win and so I played for a win. Besides, my higher-rated players to cruise to a 3-0 start. So naturally, we had brother had finished tied for 2nd place with a few other players to play in round 4. I had the White pieces and was expecting at 4 points, so stopping Davin from reaching 4 points meant a 1.d4 Nf6, because it’s all anyone is playing these days. Who can little more money in my brother’s pocket. It’s always good to blame them? It’s the most flexible reply. My game with Tim keep it in the family. Davin is a formidable opponent who is started exactly the way I expected. My strategy this time, regularly seen winning first place in his group at the bigger however, was to face off against my opponent in a classical tournaments in Denver. So I knew I had my work cut out for me defense where I could flex my knowledge of opening theory and and I’d have to work hard to beat him. Some quick research had draw on my positional experience. And so instead of falling shown that Davin likes to play the King’s Indian Defense as back on the Trompowsky with 2.Bg5, I opted instead for the Black, and I’d spent the bulk of the last month putting together more classical approach 2.c4. Tim played a Nimzo-Indian an extensive study on the King’s Indian for White with Bg5 and defense. e3 (known commonly as the Smyslov variation). So I opened

Sulleiman Omar (1698) with a Trompowsky with the explicit intention of transposing to a Smyslov KID, and Davin cooperated. Timothy Mendoza (1378) Round 4 / April 15, 2018 Sulleiman Omar (1698)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nf6 (It Davin Yin (1727) Round 5 / April 15, 2018 is my understanding that in these positions Black normally exchanges knights instead, opting to regroup and attack the 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d6 (Here I was happy to see that I’d get what I center with c5. After the game, Tim told me he spent the wanted - a system Davin was probably unfamiliar with and a remainder of the game paranoid of the e5 push with tempo. On tactically dry game with more emphasis on theory, position, and the contrary: not only was I not interested in giving up the d5 strategy. I knew Davin was extremely tactically sharp and this square, but if Tim had simply exchanged knights, retreated his type of game makes it highly difficult for the King’s Indian bishop, and played for c5, the game would have been much more player to get such complications. However, I played it safe and challenging for me.) 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.Bb5 Bd7 9.Be3 0–0 10.0–0 played 3.Nf3 to avoid any early e5 ideas. I was confident that Ne7 11.Bc4 Bc6 (An odd maneuver. I had hoped to provoke Davin wouldn’t switch gears and suddenly respond with Ne4 something like this with my last move.) after already committing to a solid setup with d6, and I was correct.) 3.Nf3 Nbd7 4.c4 g6 5.Nc3 (And the e4 square is under my control, staying that way for most of the game.) 5...Bg7 6.e3 0–0 7.Be2 h6 8.Bh4 e5 9.Qc2 exd4 (This was the correct move to fight for advantage for Davin. If he doesn’t at some point pull the trigger, then I might soon take on e5 myself and cause complications for him. I was sure to respond exd4 myself in order to keep the e5 square under my control with a pawn while I instead covered e4 with pieces.) 10.exd4 Nb6 (To me, a questionable decision. The knight isn’t very useful on b6 and should instead keep aspirations of hopping to the strong square e5, prepared by playing for the c5 break. But it’s certainly playable, and logically Davin wanted to develop his light- squared bishop, always a problem bishop for Black in these positions. But Davin had a coherent plan, developing with tempo with 11...Bf5.) 11.0–0 Bf5 12.Bd3 (I was happy to exchange 12.Bd3 b6 (Here Tim is definitely playing with fire. Immediately these pieces since one day I want a strong knight on e6 and this I can threaten to trap the Bishop with Nd2 and start putting is one of the pieces which could challenge that . I also uncomfortable pressure down the c-file. I thought the correct knew Davin might be opposed to exchanging pieces since a win response after I played a3 was b5, getting some breathing room would have got him clear first place whereas a draw means he for the Bishop. But instead...) 13.Ne2 Ng6 (And Tim’s opening has to share 2nd with other players. I think it’s for this reason blunder gave me an easy win. Although to be completely honest, that Davin responded indecisively with 12...Bg4. I was happy to I almost did not notice the bishop on c6 hanging. Thankfully I play Nd2 and ask Davin’s pieces how they were going to had played an active move with a3 so I was winning a piece in pressure my loose pawn on d4.) 12...Bg4 13.Nd2 Qd7 (Another either case. Tim retreated his dark-squared bishop and I instead sharp move. Davin most likely saw that his bishop was trapped

Page 14 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018 but I was positive he intended to sacrifice it on h3 to play for a 30.Kxf2 Na4 (An annoying move. It seems Davin’s knight on b6 win, which is in the spirit of the mainline King’s Indian. After did get a unique opportunity to create problems after all. I had much thought, I decided I was not interested in giving him two to play cautiously since I’d given away most of my advantage by very important pawns in front of my king for his bishop and to this point.) 31.a3 Nb2 32.Rd2 Nxd3+ 33.Rxd3 Rxe1 34.Kxe1 allow his queen to infiltrate with an aggressive posture. At the Re8+ 35.Kd2 Kg7 36.Re3 Rxe3 37.Kxe3 Kf6 38.f4 (It was very least if I had to give the piece back, it would not be wise to around this point that Davin got up and left the board, no doubt give Davin such a majority on the kingside. I played 14.f3 to check the standings and ask his counsel if he should offer a instead and decided that if I don’t want to win the bishop with draw. (I would still win clear first with a draw and Davin would complications, I can at least make it look stupid on h5 and be guaranteed second place prize money) However, I knew that I continue to stay solid.) 14.f3 Bh5 15.Rad1 (In hindsight, a silly had two small advantages in this endgame. My knight and king move. I should have recognized that there was too much traffic were both more aggressively placed. When he came back and on the d-file to make this an effective square for the rook and continued playing, it was obvious that he wanted to somehow that Davin would not be able to quickly generate overwhelming scratch a win out of this and take my first-place spot, but I just pressure against d4 anyway. This rook definitely belonged on didn’t see how. White is definitely the choice color here and I the e-file.) 15...Nh7 (A telegraphed move, but a strong one. was sure he’d misplay the ending, simply because it’s much Davin wants to mobilize his f-pawn and since I have to defend harder to play for Black. I was correct.) d4 now he would be able to get it in.) 16.Bf2 f5 17.b4 (To me, a small victory. I give my pieces more space on the queenside and shut down any ideas of c5, which I found to be the critical break for Black in these positions. Davin is somewhat obliged to play the prophylactic 17...Kh8, which he did, and so I regain the time I lost having to defend d4.) 17...Kh8 18.Nb3 (Preparing ideas of c5 and freeing up my bishop from its responsibility to d4.)

38...g5 39.g3 gxf4+ 40.gxf4 h5 41.a4 h4 42.a5 Kg6 43.c5 Kf6 44.c6 bxc6 45.Nxc6 Nd7 46.Kd4 Kf7 47.Kc4 Kf6 48.b5 axb5+ 49.Kxb5 Nc5 50.a6 Nd3 51.a7 Nxf4 52.a8Q Nxd5 53.Qh8+ Kg5 54.Qg8+ Kf4 55.Qxd5 Kg3 56.Qxf5 Kg2 57.Nd4 c6+ 58.Kxc6 d5 59.Qf3+ Kh2 60.Nc2 d4 61.Ne1 Kg1 62.Qg2# 1–0 (After carefully calculating everything up to mate and making sure to give Davin extra moves by freeing up his d-pawn (a trick 18...Qd8 19.Ne2 (Eyeing the f4 square, but Davin found the to avoiding stupid ), I was able to use my queened strong move 19...Qg5, and now I had to reroute my pieces to the pawn to deliver mate. kingside.) 19...Qg5 20.Nd2 Rfe8 21.Ng3 Rad8 (I felt this was Davin was my toughest opponent all tournament and it was too little too late for the c5 break. If I had wasted a move great to get to play him in the last round. I was glad to have the playing Rad1, then Davin certainly wasted a move playing White pieces and use my preparation to dictate the flow of the Rad8.) 22.Nb3 Nf8 23.Nxh5 Qxh5 24.d5 (Looking back at the game, which certainly took him out of his comfort zone and into game I felt like this was a definite mistake on my part. I had more positional chess where the moves aren’t so straight- been playing the last several moves for c5 and instead played forward.) d5, giving aggressive life to Davin’s pieces. I felt that I had sufficient control of the e5 square and then just gave it away. Going 5-0 in this tournament was exhilarating, and next year I Also, it seems looking at the game that my control of the center hope to be sharp enough to contend for money in the open had a close correlation with the state of the open e-file, which section. You’ll see me at the next Denver Open! Davin was in control of. Davin continued with the aggressive plan I handed him.) 24...Be5 25.h3 Qg5 26.Bd4 Bxd4+ k 27.Nxd4 Qe3+ (Davin played this sequence of moves very quickly, no doubt dying of thirst for tactical opportunities. Luckily, despite my concessions I had a very solid position and his other pieces were quite awkward. There was nothing major to be gained from the sequence, and somehow my misplaced rook on d1 ended up saving the day.) 28.Qf2 a6 29.Rfe1 Qxf2+

www.ColoradoChess.com Page 15 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

him to lunch. Soon other students at his sites in the area. Bobby was very Growing Up With table brought their chess sets, and within impressed with the Air Force Command Chess in Colorado a few weeks the whole row was filled Center built inside Cheyenne Mountain, with students playing chess, which but he also worried that the USSR might by Rod Schlater continued all of Rod’s time in high try to bomb it. Our ongoing Cold War (As told in the 3rd person) school. with the Soviets was something that Rod Schlater was born in 1947 and is worried most Americans at that time. almost a native of Colorado. His family One of his friends was Keith who lived moved to Colorado Springs when he was near his house. After school they walked The day before the match an article one. The mountains and the mild climate home together and played chess. Keith appeared in the Gazette. The match was convinced his parents to settle in the was on Wasson’s chess team and asked scheduled to take place at 7:30 on April Springs. The city’s population was about Rod if he would like to play in a 28, 1964 at the Broadmoor Hotel. 45,000 then. tournament at the Fountain Valley Admission fees were $4 for challengers School. That was a very memorable and $1 for spectators. Bobby told the He lived near Colorado College and experience because it was an all day Gazette, “All I wanted to do, ever, is to Monument Valley Park. In the 2nd grade event and Fountain Valley was (and still play chess.” is) a very prestigious boarding school he walked to the park to attend a th Colorado Springs Park and Recreation located on a beautiful campus about 12 On Tuesday, April 28 , Rod paid the $4 summer program. The program was run miles south of Colorado Springs. It was fee to play and was joined by two young adult directors out of a then that Rod became really hooked on by two friends who came as spectators. small building. There, kids could check chess and playing in the tournaments. In Bobby began the occasion with a lecture out games and sports equipment. Rod all his high school tournaments against using his standup 3x3 foot felt chess became fascinated with the knights, other schools he only lost two games. board. He then started the simultaneous castles, kings and queens of chess, and play against nearly 50 challengers. asked one of the directors to teach him During high school Rod would often visit how to play. In a few games, Rod was the Colorado Springs Chess Club. There beating his teacher, although that was he met Juan Reid and Marshall Sprague. likely his teacher’s intention. That Juan Reid was the Dean of Men at summer he fell in love with chess. Colorado College and a leader of the Colorado Springs Chess Club. He not Rod then taught his brother, who was two only provided a home for the chess club years younger, how to play chess. at the college, but was a top level chess However, the games didn’t always end on player. Marshall Sprague was a journalist a positive note. Whenever his brother at the Gazette, a Colorado Springs started to lose, he would flip the board newspaper. He also was a famous author and pieces in the air. Luckily, the chess who wrote many popular books on men were plastic and able to survive their Colorado’s history, such as Money constant upheavals. Mountain about Cripple Creek and Newport in the Rockies, an excellent book While he was growing up, he attended on Colorado Springs early history. Corpus Christi, Divine Redeemer and St. Mary’s schools. Rod found that chess was One of Rod’s fondest high school a good way to meet people. He made new memories was playing Bobby Fischer in a friends by asking them if they knew how simultaneous . In 1964 Robert “Bobby” James Fischer to play chess or if they would like to the Colorado Springs Chess Club invited March 9, 1943 - January 17, 2008 learn. When he was in the 7th grade at the then 21 year old Bobby Fischer to During Rod’s game, his two friends Divine Redeemer, he met someone who come to Colorado Springs to play in a couldn’t help kibitzing. Fischer noticed, loved chess as much as he did. Every day simultaneous match. At that time he was and told Rod that he couldn’t receive after school they played chess until it was already one of the top chess players in the outside help. Rod was grateful. He played time to go home for dinner. world. In 1957, at age 14, Bobby won the White and thinks that Fischer might have United States Chess Championship, and used a Sicilian defense. He remembers In 1963 Rod started high school at by 15 he became the world’s youngest that Fischer didn’t challenge him for Wasson which was a short distance from grandmaster. about 12 moves. Instead Bobby continued his house on Prairie Road. Wasson gave to develop his pieces behind his pawns. students an hour and a half to eat lunch in According to a former Colorado Springs On about the 13th move, he began an the cafeteria. The cafeteria was arranged Chess Club member, Bobby Fischer attack that Rod was able to rebuff. On the in rows of two tables each 12 feet long. stayed at Marshall Sprague’s house 14th move he added to the attack with a One day Rod brought his with during his visit to Colorado Springs. Marshall took him on a tour of interesting move that was more difficult to respond Page 16 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018 to, and by the 15th move Rod knew the also only one of six members of his Rod’s first design project at Hewlett- game was over. squadron to be awarded the Navy Packard illustrates how exciting it can be Achievement Medal. In addition, he got to work in a field that is in the forefront However, Rod was not alone. Fischer to see the world, or at least part of it, of the modern age. At the time, there defeated all of his challengers but one. visiting Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, were only two companies that were Juan Reid was able to draw Fischer. the Philippine Islands, and Hawaii. leaders in the oscilloscope industry. The According to a March 19, 1981 Gazette industry was led by a very formidable article, during his lifetime Juan Reid was After the Navy he returned to college at competitor who employed tens of able to tie five international grandmasters UCCS and then CU Boulder. In 1971 he thousands of workers. The Colorado and four U.S. Open champions. He also was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Springs Division was number two, but served as Vice President of the U.S. National Honor Society and graduated only had a little over three thousand Chess Federation for two years. Juan with a BA in Physics degree from CU employees. Reid was not just a great chess player; he Boulder. In 1973 he earned a BS in was a great athlete and coach as well. In Electrical Engineering at UCCS. There When Rod started work in the 1979 he was inducted into the Colorado are many similarities between engineers oscilloscope division, things were looking Sports Hall of Fame for his and chess players. It is often said that gloomy. The competitor had many more accomplishments in sports and coaching “engineers solve problems”, which is products, and totally dominated the at Colorado College. exactly what chess players do. That is one industry with about 90% of the sales, of the things that makes the game so whereas the Colorado Springs Division Every year, the Colorado Springs Chess much fun! had just 10% of the sales. Unfortunately, Club sponsored high school chess the Springs Division share of the market tournaments at Colorado College. In the was decreasing. Hewlett-Packard’s 1964 tournament six high schools “Chess, like love, like competitor was king in analog participated. Wasson won the city high oscilloscopes, but the technology was school team championship, and Rod won music, has the power changing. the individual championship. to make men happy.” In 1980, Rod joined a team that was Back then Rod felt that the championship about to lead a revolution in would be his top achievement. However, Siegbert Tarrasch oscilloscopes. He worked on the first what he didn’t fully appreciate at the time digital oscilloscope that used a high speed was how much the skills he had learned ADC (Analog to Digital Converter). On in chess would help throughout his life. After college, Rod joined the that oscilloscope he came up with an idea Chess taught him how to think, Westinghouse Aerospace Division in that tripled the display area, dramatically concentrate, plan, and create. He also Baltimore, Maryland. During his five reduced the product cost, and led to learned the importance of good years with Westinghouse, he designed oscilloscopes with color displays. He also sportsmanship - being able to graciously digital circuit boards for radar systems patented one of the key ideas in the accept the defeats as well as the wins. and even worked on a special project for oscilloscope industry, infinite persistence, the National Security Agency. The which means that waveforms persist on In 1965 Rod started at the University of beacon processor he designed is still used the display as long as users need. Prior to Colorado at Colorado Springs. He was in on Air Route Surveillance Radar systems that time, viewing fast and infrequent the first class at UCCS, which began in which monitor the progress of planes waveforms was a big problem with the former Cragmor Tuberculosis flying across the United States. However, oscilloscopes because the waveforms Sanitarium. Rod remembers exploring the the highlight of his time in Baltimore was would persist on the display for only a upper two floors, which had changed meeting and marrying the love of his life, fraction of a second. Infinite persistence little since the sanitarium was closed in Carol. also allows users to see all the variations the 1960s. of a waveform, if the waveform is In 1973 Rod returned to Colorado Springs changing in time or is jittering. In 1967, Rod went into the Navy. His with his new wife to work at Hewlett- goal was to see the world. He had been a Packard on Garden of the Gods Road. Other members of the team were also member of the local Naval Reserve since The Colorado Springs HP Division has making significant contributions. Rod’s high school and advanced to the rank of played an important role in the progress boss was developing a feature called 3rd Class Petty Officer (E4). Rod was of electronics over the last 50 years. It “Autoscale”. Another problem that assigned to an aircraft squadron aboard manufactures a key electronic instrument engineers and technicians had with the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea. During that engineers use to develop and debug oscilloscopes was trying to get a picture his two years of active duty in the Navy their products, the oscilloscope. on the screen. Oscilloscopes were he advanced to 2nd Class Petty Officer Oscilloscopes are used to capture and difficult to use and took a long time to and was put in charge of the squadron display electronic waveforms that can master. New engineers and technicians office. In January 1969, he was named occur in a billionth of a second. were faced with an overwhelming the squadron Sailor of the Month. He was number of knobs and buttons, and the www.ColoradoChess.com Page 17 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018 first question they always asked seven different electronic magazines. they met for lunch at Marigold’s, and themselves was “Which one these #@$% Some of his articles were translated and then played chess for three hours at Rod’s knobs and buttons do I have to adjust or appeared in German, Italian, Cuban and house. Over the years they played each press to get a picture on the screen?” Japanese electronic magazines. other thousands of times, and to this day, Once the picture was on the screen, it was Rod cannot say who won more games. easy to adjust to get the desired picture. Unfortunately, life events took over and Autoscale solved the problem. It allowed they were unable to continue their games. customers to get a picture on screen by just pushing the autoscale button. Rod next began work on improving his chess game. His biggest problem was not Another engineer made significant thoroughly checking out each move improvements in triggering. Triggering before moving. He practiced doing it refers to setting the conditions that are right on his Amazon Fire Tablet using the needed to capture the waveform of AIFactory Chess App. On level 6 he was interest. Finally, the project leader and the almost perfectly matched against the lead analog engineer developed a new chess program, and if he did not technique that doubled the “bandwidth” thoroughly check out his moves, the of Hewlett-Packard’s oscilloscopes. program would beat him. Bandwidth is the key specification for oscilloscopes that refers to the frequency But Rod still missed going to lunch with of the waveform that can be captured. his great friend and playing chess. He searched the internet for local chess clubs Once Rod’s product started development, and found Club Chess!!, a business and other engineers in the Oscilloscope meeting place for chess players in Division started work on a lower cost Colorado Springs that is decorated in a version of the digital oscilloscope. When chess motif. The business was started by Paul Covington & Rod Schlater the team released the product Rod had a family of great chess players who are at Club Chess!! worked on, it was an instant success. totally devoted to the game. There Rod became acquainted with some new At one of the first trade shows where the During his career at Hewlett-Packard, friends and started to play against some product was shown off, a top-level Rod was an active member of Toast very good chess players. He also started management team from the competing Masters and served as president of his taking lessons from one of the top company came to see the new club. Toast Masters awakened another teachers in Colorado. He plans to play in oscilloscope. The lead engineer from that interest in Rod - that of giving the classical chess tournaments held team played with the product for a long presentations on interesting subjects. He every Wednesday. The club devotes three time, and afterwards offered the opinion won awards for best speaker and best evenings each week to classical, quick, that it was “the best oscilloscope ever humorous speaker for his club, and he and blitz chess tournaments. developed!” Hewlett-Packard followed participated in the Colorado Springs up on their new lead with a family of humorous speech contest twice. Rod continues to enjoy life and to learn digital oscilloscopes based upon the new new things. He is an avid non-fiction design. Within a short period of time, the Another highlight of Rod’s time at HP reader, and listens to CD books in his car. Colorado Springs Division was a strong was meeting a great friend. His friend He finds that the library has CD books on competitor and was hustling to keep up enjoyed playing chess as much as Rod, almost any subject. In addition to playing with new orders. and even more important, the two were chess, he enjoys traveling to far away evenly matched. They played chess places, mountain biking, and being with Rod continued to design and develop during lunch for a number of years. his family and friends. products and occasionally came up with other good ideas. He also published A few years after they both had retired, k numerous articles which appeared in they got together again. Every Thursday

Page 18 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

Amazing Interview

by Paul Covington

This story started during the 2018 Colorado Closed when a spectator came into Club Chess!! to see what was going on. He was amazed with what he witnessed; I was soon amazed by him. Since I didn’t know him, I introduced myself and he to me. Then Fran Mason shared that he had won the Colorado Springs city championship in the 70’s. I was hooked. I had to know more and started asking questions. When he mentioned several of the players who were inductees into the Colorado Chess Hall of Fame, I showed him the placards that I had prepared for display on a wall which Club Chess!! dedicated to the Colorado Chess Hall of Fame display. He began to talk about those guys and relate chess stories and events long ago. One of these included Bobby Fischer playing a simul at the Broadmoor Hotel. I arranged to do a video interview with him.

Another gentleman, Rod Schlater, who sought a place to play chess visited Club Chess!! and shared with me that he had played Bobby Fischer in 1964. I was stunned that not just one but two players had declared this within a couple of weeks. Wow, my lucky day strikes again! I scheduled both to share their experiences.

The interview was hosted by Club Chess!! on Friday, May 18. As both men shared their memories of this event and other chess experiences from those days long past, my wife (Nell) operated two video cameras to catch the entire interview. She also took photos to share with Colorado Chess Informant readers.

I was so honored to have had this experience. My gratitude and thanks to Rod and Fran for sharing their memories and also to Club Chess!! for facilitating this meeting. The videos, once edited, will be posted on the Colorado State Chess Association website sometime this fall.

k

Paul Covington, Rod Schlater & Fran Mason. Rod Schlater & Fran Mason.

The Williams family offered and helped arrange the Club Chess!! library for the interview. Thank you for helping make this happen.

www.ColoradoChess.com Page 19 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

g4, winning the knight. 7...Nd5?! 8.Nxd5 cxd5 9.Qxd5 Rb8 More Memories 10.e6! is thought to be good for White, since 10...dxe6 11.Qe5 of Robert Wendling wins. 7...Nh5 (HCE and KCE's first choice) 8.Bc4 Ng7 was played by Argentinian GM Panno in 2004. 7...Ng8 has been by Curtis Carlson played by Korchnoi and Ponomariov.) 8.Bd3 (Played more to avoid any prepared variation than because of any belief in its “Intentions are not results, and results are not determined superiority over the normal 8.Bc4 Bg7 9.Qf3. Bob always exclusively – or in many cases even remotely – by intentions.” avoided heavily analized lines, especially against the Sicilian! Claude-Frédéric Bastiat 9.Qf3 +/-, is Marshall-Robinson 1899, and Suetin-Korchnoi 1954. 8.Bf4 Bh6 9.Bxh6 Nxh6 10.Qd2 Nf5 11.Ne4 = HCE) “The American dream is about opportunity - the opportunity to 8...Bg7 9.Qe2 f6 (Acers later claimed that 9...Qa5 (=HCE, pursue a better life, where one's success depends on nothing KCE) 10.f4 (If 10.Bf4 d6 is very strong. 11.Qf3 Bd7 12.exd6 more (and nothing less) on one's own ability and effort, and Bxc3 13.bxc3 Qxc3+ 14.Ke2 Nf6 15.h3 += HCE; 11.O-O dxe5 where, as a result, innovators can come from nowhere to 12.Bg3 = KCE) 10...d6 refutes White's opening; however, after spearhead limitless human progress.” 11.O-O, White's better development and the weakness of f7 and Don Watkins & Aaron Brook c6 seem to give White a very promising game. 11.O-O Nh6 12.exd6 O-O 13.dxe7 Re8 = HCE, 14.Bd2 += KCE. 9...Rb8 and “I do not choose to admit weakness. I accept the challenge of 9...f6 are all += HCE. 9...Nh6 10.O-O O-O 11.Bf4 = KCE) responsibility.” 10.h4 (If now 10.f4 Qa5 would be difficult to meet without Black Zora Neale Hurston allowing an imposing center after 11...fxe5. The move played initiates a very bold but also very speculative attack. 10.f4 Qa5 “You can play anything as long as you are determined to fight 11.Bd2 fxe5 12.O-O +/- KCE; 10...Qc7 11.O-O fxe5 12.Kh1 += for the ideas you put in your moves.” KCE; 10.Bf4 Qa5 11.exf6 Nxf6 12.O-O += HCE.) 10...fxe5 Levon Aronian 11.h5 d5! 12.hxg6 (Hopeless would be 12.f3 in view of Black's central superiority. 12.f3?! Qd6 -/+ HCE, =+ KCE. 12.hxg6 is (This is a sequel to my first article about Robert Wendling, the best.) 12...e4 (? Too optimistic. 12...h6 13.Bd2 Qd6 = HCE) first is at www.coloradochess.com/informant/January_2018.pdf 13.Bxe4! (Acers had been expecting only 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Bxe4, - page 12). which clearly would have been insufficient. 14...hxg6 15.Rxh8 Bxh8 16.Qf3 Nf6 17.Bxc6+ Kf7 18.Bxa8 Bg4 19.Qb3+ Be6 “Most local woodpushers know by now that 23-year old Denver 20.Qf3 Bg4 = HCE.) 13...dxe4 14.Qc4 (Threatening 15.Qf7+ University student Bob Wendling, who hails from Casper, winning the bishop and, in some variations, Qxc6+. If Black became the only master in the Colorado-Wyoming area when he tries 14...hxg6, then 15.Rxh8 Bxh8 16.Qxg8+ wins. If 14...Bxc3 attained a 2206 rating in the June 1971 issue of and 15.bxc3 (15.Qxc3? Nf6) 15...Nf6 16.Qf7+ Kd7 17.Bf4 Qa5! Review. Bob's gain of 116 points in just one year supports our 18.O-O-O+ Nd5, and in this very complicated position best belief that he's not yet begun to reach the peak of his seems to be 19.g7! with a probably win for White: e.g., 19...Ba6 abilities. We are very pleased to present here his annotation of 20.gxh8Q Qa3+ 21.Kb1 Rxh8 22.Rxd5+! cxd5 23.Qxd5+, the vigorous, incisive, brilliancy-prize winning victory he followed by 24.Qa8+ and 25.Qxh8, winning.) 14...e6 15.Bg5! enjoyed over his old rival Jude Acers, who at this writing is (15.Rxh7 Rxh7 16.gxh7 Nf6 17.Bg5 +/- HCE, 17...Kf7 += rated the 28th best player in the country.” KCE). 1970 Denver Champion, Vance Aandahl

This quote and the first three games are from Vance's July 1971 Colorado Chessletter that he kindly sent last year. Notes in green italics are Bob's, those in red are mine with help from (HCE), Komodo Chess Engine (KCE), and ChessBase.

Robert Wendling (2090, age 23) Jude Acers (2136, age 27) 1970 Utah Open

Bob beats the man in the red beret a year after losing to him in the 1969 Denver Open. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 (An old continuation resembling the Accelerated Line.) 6.Nxc6 (Most common here is 6.Be3, but the text has been played by Shirov, Spassky, and Timman.) 6...bxc6 (6...dxc6, which Botvinnik used successfuly Black to play against Smslov, would hardly be in Acer's style. 6...dxc6 7.Qxd8 Kxd8 8.Bc4 += HCE, KCE) 7.e5 Ng8 (On h5 the knight would 15...Nf6? (Black never recovers from this error. 15...Ne7 allows hamper the development of the dark squared bishop, because of White a pleasant choice between either 16.Rd1 or 16.Bxe7,

Page 20 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018 forcing 16...Kxe7 as 16...Qxe7 would lose the rook after bxc4 26.Bh6 Bf6 27.Qg4+ Kh8 28.Nxf6 1-0. This was Bob's 17.Qxc6+. (15...Ne7 16.Qc5! Rb8 17.Rxh7 Rxh7 18.gxh7 Qc7 kind of game: a quick and ruthless attack! Black could have 19.Rd1 Rxb2 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.Qh5+ +-; 16...hxg6 17.Rxh8 resigned any time after White's 19th. Bxh8 18.Rd1 Bd7 19.Nxe4 +- KCE.) However, 15...Nf6 throws away Black's last chance of surviving the attack. Acers had to Robert Wendling (2192, age 24) play 15...Qxg5 16.Qxc6+ Ke7 (16...Kf8 17.Qxa8 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Robert Burley (1909, age 45) Qc5 += HCE, 19.O-O-O Nf6 20.Qb8 +/- KCE) 17.Qxa8 Bd7 (If Scottsbluff Open / May 8, 1971

17...Bxc3 18.bxc3 Qc5 19.Rxh7! Rxh7 20.hxg7 Qxc3+ 21.Kd1! 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 (Bob also liked 3.c3, the Ponziani.) Qxa1+ 22.Kd2 and Black must take the perpetual as 22...Qg7 3...exd4 4.Bc4 Be7 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Ne5 7.Bb3 d6 8.f4 Ng6 23.Qxc8 Qxh7 24.Qc7+ would win. It's curious the tactically 9.Be3 a6 10.a4 O-O 11.O-O Kh8 12.h3 c5 13.Nf3 Be6?! (HCE gifted Bob missed 19.Qxa7+! Qxa7 20.g7 +- KCE) 18.Rxh7 prefers 13...Bd7 hoping for ...b5 or ...Bc6 was better, although Qxg6 19.Rxh8 Bxh8 in a very unclear position in which White White is better after 14.f5 Ne5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Nd5. KCE says will probably have to fight for the draw. 20.O-O-O +/- HCE, += the 13...Be6 is equally good.) 14.Bxe6 fxe6 15.Ng5 Qc8 16.f5! KCE. 20.g7 Nf6 21.O-O-O +- KCE ) 16.Rd1 (+- HCE, KCE) exf5 17.exf5 Ne5? (This natural move is weaker than 17...Nh4 16...Bd7 (If 16...Qc7 (Both 16...Qe7 and 16...Qa5 lose to 18.g4 Qc6 += KCE) 18.Ne6 Rg8 19.Bg5 g6? (This is 17.Qxc6+) 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Rxh7!! (Unconvincing is 18.Nxe4 suicide. 19...Qc6 was tougher). O-O 19.Rxh7 Qe5) 18...Rxh7 19.gxh7 Bd7 (What else?) 20.Nxe4 Bg7 (20...Qe5 21.Kf1 +- KCE) 21.Nd6+ with a winning attack.) 17.Nxe4 Qa5+ (If 17...O-O Simply 18.Nc5 regains the piece with a winning attack, but not the tempting 18.Nxf6+ because of 18...Rxf6! (18...Bxf6 loses to 19.Qh4! Qe7 20.Bxf6 Rxf6 21.Qxh7+ (21.Rxd7 Qxd7 22.Qxf6 +- HCE) 21...Qxh7 22.gxh7+ and 23.Rxd7, winning. 18...Rxf6 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Qf4 Qf8 21.Qc7 +- KCE.) 18.b4 Qe5 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.f4 (20.Rh5 +- HCE, KCE) 20...Qxf4 (This loses outright. 20...Qb2 would have made it much more difficult, though White should still win after 21.c3! Bg7 (or Be7) 22.O-O!! (21.Nd6+ allows a saving Qc3 in some variations). One line is 22...hxg6 23.Rd2 Qa3 24.Rfd1 Rd8 25.Rxd7! Rxd7 26.Qxe6+ Re7 27.Qc8+ Kf7 28.Ng5+ Kf6 29.Rd6+, winning. Of course there are many other possibilities, but the totally disorganized state of Black's game should guarantee White a win in all variations. 21.Nd6+ Qxd6 White to play 22.Rxd6 Ke7 23.Qc5 hxg6 24.Rxh8 Rxh8 25.Rd3 Kd8 26.Qxa7 Rh7 27.Rxd7+ (Better was 27.Qb8+ Ke7 20.Qxd6! Bxd6 21.Bxf6+ Rg7 22.Bxg7+ Kg8 23.Bxe5 Bxe5 28.Rxd7+. Bob must have been in his usual . The 24.Nd5 Kh8 25.Nb6 Qe8 26.Rae1! Bg3 27.fxg6 (Almost game continuation is winning, but without his rook Jude might anything wins here, but HCE gives 27.Nxa8 Bxe1 28.Nac7 Qd7 actually have resigned!) 27...Rxd7 28.Qa8+ Ke7 29.Qxc6 ...and 29.f6 +-) 27...Bxe1 28.g7+ Kg8 29.Rf8+ Qf8+ 30.gxf8Q+ RXf8 White won easily, Acers pointlessly dragging it out until I 31.Nxf8 Kxf8 32.Nd7+ ...and wins on move 45. Expert strength checkmated him on the 53rd move with two queens! Bob Burley (1926-2014) was from Wyoming, and won the 1969 Colorado Open with a perfect 6-0. He was one of few to have Robert Wendling (2192, age 24) won a tournament game from Bob. Eliason (Unrated, age unknown) Denver Chess League / January 26, 1971

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 Be7 7.Be3 Nc6 8.Qe2 O-O 9.Bb3 Qc7 10.O-O-O a6 11.g4 Nxd4 12.Rxd4 e5 (!? This forces White's rook to an awkward square but leaves a d5 hole. HCE prefers 12...Nd7 = or 12...b5 =) 13.Rc4 Qd8 14.g5 Ne8 (14...Nd7 += KCE) 15.Qh5 (15.h4 b5 16.Rxc8 Rxc8 17.Nd5 +/- HCE) 15...g6?! (Black should have avoided this weakening move. Right was 16...Be6 = KCE) 16.Qh6 b5?+- (Black had to keep the kingside closed with 16...Ng7 to answer 17.h4 with 17...Nh5, although White is better after 18.Nd5 += HCE, KCE. Also good was simply 17.Nd5 +=. Now the end comes quickly.) 17.Rxc8! Rxc8 18.h4 Ng7? (Black's only hope was to eliminate White's knight with 18...Rxc3 19.bxc3 Ng7, although he's still lost after 20.h5 Nxh5 21.Rxh5 gxh5 22.g6 as in the game.) 19.h5 Nxh5 20.Rxh5 gxh5 Spassky - Fischer 21.g6 hxg6 22.Qxg6+ Kh8 23.Qh5+ Kg8 24.Nd5 Rc4 25.Bxc4 Black to play

www.ColoradoChess.com Page 21 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

In 1972, the chess world was anxiously anticipating the Bobby 6.Bg5 lines.) 6...e5 (A satisfactory line, but current praxis seems Fischer - match. Bob predicted Bobby would win to favor a less commital deployment, e.g. 6...Qc7 followed by by three. We were in Salt Lake City for the “Days of ‘47 Open” fianchettoing on either or both flanks, and reserving the option during the fifth game (see diagram on previous page): of a later ...e5. 6...e5 is most common and has been played successfully by Kasparov. HCE and KCE say 6...e5, 6...e6, One of the most famous positions in chess history! Spassky 6...Qc7, and 6...g6 are equal.) 7.Nf3 Qc7 8.Bd3 b5 (A better plan resigned after 27...Bxa4, since 28.Qxa4 Qxe4 and 28.Qd2 Bxd1 of development would be 8...Nbd7 9.O-O g6 and ...Bg7 and 29.Qxd1 Qxe4 are hopeless. Bob instantly saw why White ...O-O etc. The weakening of the black squares is inevitable to capitulated, when it took the mere mortals much longer! prevent the knight from settling in on f5 as in the game, so the fianchetto is indicated to aid in the kingside defense.) 9.O-O Be7 He later asked if I had seen the 8th game after 19...Nd7: (9...b4 10.Ne2 Bb7 11.Ng3 just help White mass his pieces for the kingside assault.) 10.Qe1 O-O 11.fxe5 (Simultaneously preventing the possibility of any disconcerting central eruptions {11.Nh4 b4 12.Nd1 d5!?} while clearing the file for the KR and increasing the range of the QB. Chessbase has 16 games with this position but none with 11.fxe5. 11.Kh1 = KCE is Tarjan - Gilden 1973.) 11...dxe5 12.Nh4 (After only twelve moves White has acquired a manifestly superior position, while Black is reduced to the grim prospect of a long, arduous defensive task in a position devoid of counterplay. Although this should not be taken as a criticism of Brian, who is one of the area's most talented juniors, his play in this opening is typical of a common failing - a player's criteria for selecting an opening too often tends to be more in terms of how fashionable the line is on the grandmaster level rather than in terms of an objective assessment of the variation in relation to his own temperament Fischer - Spassky and ability. For example, a line as sharp and precarious as the White to play Najdorf demands extremely alert, precise play from the earliest stages and will often backfire in the hands of a player inflexibly Bob was amazed at how easily White won: 20.Nd5 Qxd2 bound to memorized lines or one who relies too heavily on 21.Nxe7+ Kf8 22.Rxd2 Kxe7 23.Rxc4. Against Fischer, general principles without probing deeply for the specifics Spassky must have felt like me playing Bob - an utter sense of characteristics of a position. Bob's optimism won him many hopelessness! games, but here HCE and KCE say it's equal after 12...Nc6, 12...Be6, or 12...Rd8.) 12...b4 13.Nd1 In 1972 Bob won a match (3.5-2.5) vs. John Watson, who had recently moved to Denver from Omaha. The only game I saw was the first, where Bob disliked John's ‘infernal early 5...c5 variation’ in the Pirc. John said recently he doesn't recall the games other than a quick loss against the French in the 6th. That was unexpected since said once Bob said he disliked that opening because it was hard to win against 3.ed! John must not have played for a draw. Unfortunately the game score is unavailable.

After disappointing results in 1972 Bob did better in early 1973 when he won three consecutive tournaments. Here he takes down one of Colorado's most colorful amateurs.

Robert Wendling (2194, age 26) Brian Wall (1997, age 18) Black to play Al Wallace Memorial, March 24, 1973

Bob's notes in green italics were made shortly after the game 13...g6 (Creating a terrible gash in the kingside defenses in what was played; notes by me with computer assistance in red 45 is now a futile attempt to out the White knights. I doubt years later. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 that Black has a fully satisfactory defense, but somewhat better 6.f4 (Formerly quite popular, the Classical Attack has been would have been on the previous move 12...Be6 {12...b4 merely coming back into favor in the past few years. But one of the aided White in the redeployment of his QN}, and if 13.Ne2 Nh5 major attractions of the line is simply the negative one of or 13.Nd1 Nbd7 14.Ne3 g6. 13... g6 doesn't ruin Black's game enabling players to sidestep the avalanche of analysis in the but it should have been avoided or delayed. While White aimed for f5 Black could have aimed for d4: 13...Nc6 14.Ne3 Nd4 Page 22 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

15.Nhf5 Nxf5 16.Nxf5 Bxf5 17.Rxf5 = HCE. Also good was to 26.Bg7+, while 25...Rxd1 26.Qxd1 leaves unstoppable 13...Be6 14.Nf5 Bc5+ 15.Kh1 Nbd7 = KCE.) 14.Bh6 Rd8 (+= threats, and the clever 25...Qf2 fails to 26.Bg7+ Kg8 27.Bxg6+ KCE. Not a mistake but preferable was 14...Re8 += HCE, KCE, Kf8 28.Qxb4+.) 25.Rxg8+ Kxg8 26.Qg3+ Kf7 27.Qg7+ Ke6 since the e- pawn gets support and a later Bg5 won't the f6 28.Rd1! Qe7 29.Qg8+ Qf7 30.Rd6+ Ke7 31.Qd8# A fine finish. knight. 15.Ne3 Bb7? (Realizing that White is not to be denied The talented junior could have resigned any time after 22.Rf3. his knight sacrifice on f5, Black, by presuring the KP, tries to Bob took clear first, drawing only with Bob Shean and beating force White to use the QN: 16.Nef5 Bc5 17.Kh1 Nbd7 and the me in the last round (see my previous article). defense holds, at least temporarily. Black is struggling after this natural move. The QB was needed on e6 to help defend the king 2300 strength California master Don Sutherland played in many and to cover f5. Black could simplify with 15...Ng4 16. Nxg4 Denver tournaments from 1972-75 while stationed at Lowry Air Bxg4 17.Qg3 Be6 18.Nf5 Bf8 19.Bg5 += HCE. 15...Nbd7 Force Base. He won the 1974 Armed Forces Championship and 16.Nhf5 Bf8 += KCE. Interesting is 15...Nc6 16.Nhf5 Bxf5 played in Lone Pine. Bob played him four times in 1973; Don 17.Nxf5 Nh5 18.Bc4 +/- KCE. Black should hold with proper won in the Naylin Memorial in January, then Bob won in the defense.) 16.Nhf5! Nxe4 (Now on 16...Bc5 White quickly builds April CUDC Open. They had quick draws in the May Air Force up decisive pressure with 17.Qh4 Nbd7 18.Kh1 and 19.Bg5. Academy Open, and again in the September Colorado Open, 16...Bxe4? loses at least a piece to 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Bg5, and where Don took clear first after Bob drew Sal Martinez in the 16...gxf5? of course fails after 17.Qg3+ Ng4 18. Nxf5.) final round. Bob's crushing win over me wasn't enough to take 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Nf5 (The sacrifice of the second knight on f5 clear first, but he still did very well with 5-1. It was one of his forcibly breaks down Black's defensive barricade (and spirit). last tournaments. Acceptance is forced, as 18...Qc5+ runs into 19.Be3 and 20.Nh6. Bob gave this a ! but it allows Black to resist. Black can After six embarrassing losses to Bob I got lucky and drew the almost resign after 18.Bc4 Nd6 19.Bb3 when 20.Rd1-d6 is a 7th. crushing threat.) 18...gxf5 19.Bxe4 Robert Wendling (2205, age 28) Curtis Carlson (2107, age 21) Denver Chess Club Invitational / July 29, 1975

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 (No more Najdorf’s! I disliked playing against this, as Bob knew well.) 2...e6 3.Nf3 d5 (Slightly impatient but after our last game I was reluctant to transpose into another non- Najdorf Sicilian.) 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bb5+ Nc6 6.Ne5 (6.O-O += KCE) 6...Ne7 7.d4 Be6?! (Not a bad move in itself, but Black should have relieved the tension with 7...f6 or 7...a6 before White took on c5. This was typical of the passive play of my youth.) 8.dxc5 Rc8 (It's surprisingly hard to win back the pawn, and it's easy to see why Bob avoided main lines against me since White already has a clear advantage. The text is KCE's first choice while HCE prefers 8...a6.) 9.O-O (9.b4 +/- HCE, KCE.) 9...Ng6 10.Nd3 (10.Qd4 +/- was a little better although Bob's Black to play move is also good.) 10...Be7 11.Ne2 O-O 12.Bxc6 (Slightly impatient. White should play 12.c3 waiting for ...a6 before 19...f6? (It's surprising Bob didn't mention 19...Rd6, which is capturing.) 12...Rxc6? (14...bxc6 += KCE) 13.Nd4 Rc8 14.b4 why HCE and KCE preferred 18.Bc4. After 20.Bg5 f6 21.Rxf5 (This is reasonable but best was 14.Re1! since 14...Bxc5? Bxe4 (21...fxg5? 22.Rxe5 +-) 22.Qxe4 Nc6 += KCE is hard to 15.Nxc5 Rxc5 16.Rxe6! wins.) 14...Bf6 15.c3 Ne5 16.Nxe5 win. Now the game is over.) 20.Bxb7 Qxb7 21.Rxf5 Qe7? (It's Bxe5 17.Ne2 (Bob didn't want to allow a d4 exchange that led to now +- KCE. Wall's tenacious defense is somehow holding his an opposite colored bishops middlegame that would be hard to ragged position together. Clearly 21...Nd7 would have lost to win, but 17.Re1 +/- KCE was best.) 17...b6 += 18.Be3 Bf6 22.Qg3+ and 21...Rd6 to 22.Qg3+ Kh8 23.Rxe5 (or ever (Don't recall why I played this, but 18...Re8 or 18...Qc7 were += 23.Qxe5!), but now Black is ready to untangle his queenside, KCE.) 19.Bd4 Re8 20.a4 (20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.cxb6 axb6 22.Re1 e.g. 22.Qg3+ Kh8 23.Qf3 Nd7. However, White's next creates a +/- KCE.) 20...Bg4!? (Black hopes his bishop pair will mix new series of threats which Black's uncoordinated forces are things up and provokes a weakening, but 20...bxc5 21.Bxc5 a5 unable to resist. The only way to continue was 21...Qb6+ += was best.) 21.f3 Be6 (Right was 21...Bd7 since e6 gets 22.Kh1 Ra7 but 23.Rd1! still wins. Black's king is too exposed threatened by White's knight.) 22.Qd2 Bg5? (This loses more to survive.) 22.Rf3! Kh8 23.Rg3 Qc5+ (If 23...Rg8 Black's time. 22...bxc5 23.Bxc5 a5 was again the best hope.) 23.f4 Bf6 inability to connect his rooks is neatly exploited by 24.Rxg8+ 24.cxb6 axb6 25.Bxf6 (25.a5 bxa5 26.Rxa5 +- HCE) 25...Qxf6 Kxg8 25.Qe4 Ra7 (or 25...Qc5+ 26.Kh1 and on 26...Ra7 26.Nd4 (This is OK but 26.a5 was best.) 26...Bf5 27.Nb5 (Good 27.Be3, or if 26...Qc6 27.Qg4+ wins); 26.Qc4+ forcing mate in was simply 27.Nxf5 Qxf5 28.a5 +/-) 27...Be4 28.Qd4!? (Again, two.) 24.Kh1 Rg8 (This is suicidal; however the alternatives 28.a5! We were both low on time.) 28...Qxd4? (Correct was would only prolong what would be a hopeless struggle: 24...Ra7 28...Qg6 29.Rf2 h6 += KCE. With White's advancing queenside 25.Be3, or if 24...Rd7 25.Rd1 is unanswerable (25...Raa7 loses pawns Black should avoid exchanges and use his strong bishop www.ColoradoChess.com Page 23 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018 to make kingside threats. White's advantage increases with I next saw Bob in July 1976 where he was a spectator at the reduced material.) 29.cxd4 Rc2 30.Rf2 Rec8? (This obvious Denver Open. We only spoke briefly before he left. Our eighth move is a blunder. Best was 30...Rc6 +/- KCE.) 31.Ra2? (Black and final game was in November 1976 in the Mile High Open. It could resign after 31.Rxc2 Rxc2 32.a5! bxa5 32.bxa5 Rg2+ was his last tournament game and my only win against him. It's 33.Kf1.) 31...Rc1+ 32.Rf1 Bd3 (32...Kf8 = KCE) 33.Rxc1 not included here since he played far below his normal strength. Rxc1+ 34.Kf2 Bxb5 (While not a mistake it's better to defer He withdrew and I never saw him again. In September 1977 opening the a file for White's rook. 34...Rf1+ 35.Ke3 Bc4 (almost a year later) when I lived in Berkeley, California 36.Ra3 Rb1 += KCE should hold.) 35.axb5 g6?! (Too weak, too Christine Hendrickson (1949-2005) told me he died on August slow! Black feels safer with White's pawns doubled, but it's still 31 (or September 1, depending on the source). It was hard to not easy. Right was 35...Kf8 += KCE 36.Ra6 Rc4 37.Rxb6? believe. In any case Bob will never be forgotten. I wonder what (After 37.Ke3 Rxb4 38.Rxb6 +/- Black has to work hard to happened to his extensive library of rare books and the little draw. We were nearly out of time.) 37...Rxd4 38.Rb8+ (Another wooden chess set he kept in a cigar box. For some reason I time pressure slip. 38.f5 was the last try. 38...Kg7 39.Rd8 Rxf4+ remember one of his White knights had eyes carved out, the 40.Ke3 Rxb4. Adjourned but drawn without resumption since other didn't! They must have been hand crafted. 41.Rxd5 Kf6 is dead even. I never expected my rook to steal so many pawns! As I was finishing this article I was shocked and saddened to hear my longtime friend Dave Jellison died on February 5, 2018. This game is very memorable for me, but I never knew how bad He was one of Colorado's top players in the '80s before moving it was before HCE and KCE. Nonetheless July 29, 1975 was one to New Hampshire in 1989, then Texas in 2002. My next article of the best days of my life, since I drew Bob! It was like winning will be about him. I would appreciate memories or games of his the lottery. 43 years later it gives less satisfaction when reality anyone can share. As always, I can be reached by email at set in; a healthier Bob would have eschewed 31.Ra2. He [email protected] if there are any questions, comments or withdrew from the tournament after a draw with 1600 rated corrections. And as always, I appreciate the opportunity to share Robert April and a win over Sal Martinez. His health issues memories. continued drag him down. k

Page 24 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

COLORADO CHESS CLUB DIRECTORY

Colorado State University. You can email Randy Reynolds at oulder hess lub: Meets Wednesdays at the University B C C [email protected]. Memorial Center (First Floor) on the CU Boulder campus, 6:30- On the web - groups.yahoo.com/group/fort_collins_chess. 9:30pm. 1669 Euclid Avenue, 80309. www.BoulderChess.com.

Fort Lewis College Chess Club: Meets Thursday nights in arbondale hess lub: Meets every Tuesday from C C C the X-treme room which is located the College Union Building, 6:00pm until the wee hours at Kahhak Fine Arts & School, 411 the club is sponsored by the school and is a USCF affiliate club. Main Street, Carbondale, 81623. All levels and ages are wel- For more info, contact Andrea Browne at (970) 247-6239. come and chess coaching is available. Please contact Majid Kahhak at (970) 704-0622 or email: [email protected]. Grand Junction Chess Club: Meets Mondays at 6:30pm

in the Safeway at Starbucks, 2901 Patterson Road. Call Rick astle ock hess lub: Meets every Monday from 6:00- C R C C Lovato at (970) 243-1073. 9:00pm at the Philip S. Miller Library, 100 South Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, 80104. Grand Junction Junior Chess Club: Meets every 3rd

Saturday of the month at the Knights of Columbus Building, hess nights: (Highlands Ranch) Meets on the 2nd & 4th C K 2853 North Avenue. Call Rand Dodd at (970) 245-4015. Wednesday evenings from 7:00-9:00pm. Highlands Ranch Li- brary, 9292 Ridgeline Boulevard, 80129. Greeley Chess Club: Meets Wednesdays, 6:00-9:00pm at Information is also available on the Chess Knights' Web site at Your Place Coffee, 2308 West 17th Street, Greeley. Contact HighlandsRanchLibraryChess.org. Brad Lundstrom at [email protected]. Or call him at Contact: Frank Atwood (720) 260-1493 or by email: (970) 415-3855. [email protected].

Lafayette Chess Club: Meets Mondays, from 6:00-9:00pm hessmates hess lub: (Fort Collins) 4825 South Lemay C C C at the Mojo Coffeehouse, 211 North Public Road in Lafayette. Avenue, 80525. Mondays & Thursdays 5:00-6:30pm for Ad- For more information send an email to [email protected] vanced players, Tuesdays for Beginners from 5:15-6:15pm. In- or contact Victor Creazzi at (303) 332-7039. structed by Zachary Bekkedahl. For more information contact Zachary Bekkedahl by email at [email protected] or go to Longmont Chess Club: Meets Wednesdays from 6:30- www.chessmatesfc.com. 9:00pm. Check www.LongmontChess.com for current meeting location. Email Todd Burge at [email protected] or Colorado Springs Chess Club: Meets Tuesday evenings, call (720) 220-5240. 7:00-10:00pm, in the ballroom of the Acacia Apartments build- ing, 104 East Platte Avenue. Scheduled activities every meeting Northeast Denver Chess Club: Meets Mondays and at 8:00pm (must show up by 8:00pm or you might be locked Thursdays from 4:00-8:00pm at 2575 Vine Street, Denver. Call out). For information see our website at www.SpringsChess.org (303) 320-6716 for more info. or email Richard “Buck” Buchanan at [email protected] or call (719) 685-1984. Pagosa Springs Chess Club: Meets on Tuesdays (6:00-

9:00pm) and on Saturday mornings (9:00-Noon) at Nello’s Res- raig hess lub: Call Rick or Mary Nelson, (970) 824- C C C taurant, 135 Country Center Drive, #A. For more information 4780 to schedule play. contact Anthony Steventon by email at [email protected] or at (970) 731-3029. Denver Chess Club: Meets on Tuesdays, 6:00-10:00pm at the Third Christian Reformed Church, 2400 South Ash Street, Pueblo Chess Club: Meets at the Hanging Tree Café, 209 Denver. (303) 733-8940. www.DenverChess.com. South Union, 81003 on Tuesdays and Thursdays after 6:30pm. For more info contact Liz Nickovich at [email protected] or Denver Chess / Meetup.com: This group is run through the by phone at (719) 696-8389. social site Meetup.com, and our page is www.Meetup.com/ Learn-to-Play-Chess/. Players must join in order to receive in- Rifle Chess Club: Meets Thursdays, 6:30-9:00pm, at City formation and sign up for events. Contact: David Costantino at Hall. For information email Dane Lyons at [email protected]. [email protected] or through the group's Meetup.com page.

Stonebridge Games Chess Club: (Longmont) Meets Tues- urango hess lub: Meets on Wednesdays from 6:00- D C C days at 5:00pm. 449 Main Street, Longmont. Call (303) 776- 9:00pm at Durango Joe’s Coffee Shop, 732 East College Drive. 3796 for more info.

Fort Collins Chess Club: Currently meets Tuesdays, k 7:00pm, in the food court of the Lory Student Center (2nd level),

www.ColoradoChess.com Page 25 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

The human antidote to ARB is to: control K12 chose 13.Ne3 0-0 (+0.83) with none Recent Advances or contest the center; break the pawn for K12, and one for Sf9 at h5. in Pawn Theory string on either flank; then launch side attacks. © Copyright 2018 Colin James III All rights reserved ARB is avoided by experts in tournament play, but is followed in specialty groups This article was motivated by re-evalua- for online chess. tion of ARB (1983), now renamed TARBCS, for the Anthony R. Brown The transcript continued: 10.Bf4 g5 chess system. 11.Bg3 Ng6 12.d5 e5, ending with the notation 0-1. ARB is a strategy for use exclusively against chess engines but not humans.

ARB adopted Stockfish (Sf9) as the gold standard for free chess engines and as superior to the commercial chess engines, The recent advance in pawn theory such as Komodo (K12). examines uncontested, empty board spaces behind and sideways in the Brown supplied this recent transcript with respectively derived positions for ARB Sf9 as White and his ARB moves: 1.e4 e6 and K12 or Sf9. 2.d4 d6 3.Bd3 h6 4.Nf3 a6 5.O-O g6 6.Nbd2 b6 7.c3 Bg7 8.Re1 Bb7 9.Nc4 One asks, “Why consider the empty space Ne7. already traversed by a pawn string.”

The instant conjecture is that pawns in a At this point the testing commenced. string as the front line require a supply pipe line to be maintained from the flanks We used an i7-4790 on 32 GB RAM with or behind: a greater unprotected space settings as: 7 CPUs; 18 GB hash table, behind implies a greater need for cleared before each run; tablebases and potential support. permanent brain turned off; and 180- second control, a requirement of Brown. If the ARB plan is to maximize space in front of a pawn string from the engine, Sf9 chose 13.h3 Nd7 (+1.01) with no then the contra plan is to minimize or empty, uncontested back/side square for deny the occupation of space behind a K12, and one for Sf9 at h5. pawn string of the engine from ARB.

One asks, “Does ARB protect itself The unique feature common to ARB is against the engine controlling space this pawn pattern, with the backward behind and sideways to the ARB pawn pawns on the weakest squares c7 and f7. string.”

An answer is that ARB ignores empty back and side space because it is minimized anyway in Black's pawns by its passive-aggressive moves to rank 6.

Thanks are due to Anthony R. Brown for helpful comments.

The ARB strategy coerces pawn advance k by the White engine. The goal is to: obtain passed pawns (out-flanking the engine); leave the rooks as door stops on either file; and float the elevated king onto either side.

Page 26 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018 The Chess Detective®

Winning Opposite Color Bishop Endgames

by NM Todd Bardwick (Reprinted with permission of the Author, the United States Chess Federation & Chess Life magazine.)

In this position with n the last couple of columns, we looked at opposite color I the pawns spread out, bishops in the middlegame. White can simply advance his b-pawn. Now we will examine them in the endgame where draws are Black will have to common. sacrifice his bishop for it and White will win Often, a one pawn advantage is not enough to win an opposite with his g-pawn. color bishop ending...sometimes a two pawn advantage is not enough. Note that if the pawn on g2 was on h2 If you are losing the game, steering toward an opposite color instead, the game bishops in the endgame generally gives you the best chances to would be drawn as draw. The opposite is also true, if you are ahead, it is usually best Black would leave his to try to avoid an opposite color bishop endgame. White to move king in front of the h- pawn, sacrifice his The defending player will try to block the advance of pawns on bishop for the b-pawn, and draw because White's bishop is not on the color of his bishop. If successful, a pawn cannot promote, and the color of the h8 square. without a queen, won't be possible. White's king This position is drawn, outmaneuvered Black despite White's two in this position that pawn lead in material. If occurred between he tries 1.f5, all Black Borislav Kostic and needs to do is keep his Savielly Tartakower in bishop attacking e5 and Bled, Slovenia, 1931. not move his king so White can never safely Down two pawns in push his e-pawn. The material, Black other pawn push, 1.e5+ attempts to blockade Bxe5 2.fxe5+ Kxe5 White's passed pawns results in a draw by on the dark squares. insufficient mating 59.Kd3 (White's king material. White cannot goes on a long journey protect e5 with his king Position after 58...Be3 White to move White to move as Black must defend by playing Ke3-d4 against the advancing because of ...Bxf4. As long as Black keeps his king on f6 and pawns.) 59...Ba7 60.Ke4 Kd6 61.Kf5 Bc5 62.Kf6 Be3 63.Kf7 bishop on b8, c7, or d6, White cannot make progress. Bc5 64.Ke8 Kc7 (64...Bb6 65.Bf3 and 65...Kc7 loses to 66.Ke7 Bc5+ 67.Ke6 zugzwang or Black's bishop moving off the a5-d8 You can win opposite color bishop endings - but the exact diagonal allows Kd8 and Kc8.) 65.Bf3 Ba7 66.Ke7 Bc5+ 67.Ke6 positioning of the pieces is critical. (Black is in zugswang and one of White's pawns will advance.) 67...Kb6 68.d6 Kxa6 69.c7 Ka7 70.c8=Q Resigns. Winning often requires a zugswang, blocking out the defending bishop with a pawn, or getting the king around the blockade. It is k more difficult for the defending bishop if he has to defend two diagonals at the same time, not just one.

Todd Bardwick is the author of “ Workbook: A Blueprint for Developing the Best Plan.” He can be reached at www.ColoradoMasterChess.com www.ColoradoChess.com Page 27 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

Here are the statistics from this quarter Peter Barlay Tuesday Night and some games from the events 6 1 1 81.25% Chess (name, wins, losses, draws, %): Robert Lorenzen 0 2 0 0.00% by Club Tournament Director Dual Rated Chess Scott Williams Paul Anderson 3 3 0 50.00% Ayush Vispute Supreme King In April, 13 players came out for the 1 2 1 37.50% Dean Brown 3 3 0 50.00% April Quick Six event (6SS, G/24+5), and Tristan Cruz Peter Barlay won 1st place with only 1 0 1 1 25.00% Gilber Gaxiola Jr 1 3 0 25.00% loss. Brian Rountree, Mark McGough, William Wolf Mike Smith, and I split up 2nd place. 2 2 0 50.00% Grayson Harris 3 2 1 58.33% Grayson Harris and Scott Williams divided up the Under prize. In the Cabin 0 1 0 0.00% Larry Turner Standard Rated Chess Fever Reliever event (4SS, G/45;d/10), NM Richard “Buck” Buchanan went 1 1 0 50.00% Ayush Vispute perfect over 11 players to win 1st place. Lawrence Osborn 2 4 2 37.50% Mark McGough claimed 2nd place. 0 4 0 0.00% Brian Rountree Gilberto Gaxiola Jr took home the Under Mark McGough 5 2 1 68.75% prize. 3 1 0 75.00% Calvin DeJong Michael Smith II 1 0 2 66.67% In May and June, the club returned to 2 2 0 50.00% Christopher Motley four-round, monthly events (4SS, Paul Anderson 1 1 0 50.00% G/90+30). Mike Smith, Mark McGough, 1 0 0 100.00% Clinton Eads Sara Herman, and Daniel Herman carved Richard “Buck” Buchanan 3 5 0 37.50% up 1st place while Scott Williams, Larry 4 0 0 100.00% Daniel Herman Osborn, Joey Arispe, and Ayush Vispute Supreme King 5 1 2 75.00% divided up the Under prize in May. NM 2 2 0 50.00% Daniel Rupp Josh Bloomer was perfect in June and 1 6 0 14.29% Quick Rated Chess Dean Brown earned 1st place honors. 2nd place was split between Mark McGough, Brian Brian Rountree 2 3 1 41.67% Rountree, Sara Herman, and Daniel 4 2 0 66.67% Erasmus Eskeldson Herman. The Under prize went to Joey Calvin DeJong 1 3 1 30.00% Arispe, Joel Hicks, Grayson Harris, Dean 2 2 0 50.00% Gerardo Cruz Brown, and Ayush Vispute. Clinton Eads 3 3 1 50.00% 2 8 0 20.00% Grayson Harris We also held the May One Night Quick Dean Brown 3 4 0 42.86% (4SS, G/20;d/5) this quarter since we had 4 6 0 40.00% Imre Barlay a 5th Tuesday. Mark McGough and I tied Derek Eskeldson 0 1 0 0.00% for 1st place from 16 players. The Under 2 2 0 50.00% Joel Hicks prize was taken home by Joey Arispe and Douglas Clark 3 2 0 60.00% Clint Eads. 0 4 0 0.00% Joey Arispe Gerardo Cruz 4 6 0 40.00% The attendance has jumped, on average, 1 3 0 25.00% Josh Bloomer to 16 players per event with 565 games Grayson Harris 6 0 0 100.00% being played in 2018. We collected 4 5 0 44.44% Lawrence Osborn $862.00 in entry fees and returned Joey Arispe 1 7 0 12.50% $751.26 in prizes (87.15%). 4 3 0 57.14% Mark McGough Larry Turner 6 2 0 75.00% The annual July Mating Game will be 2 2 0 50.00% Michael Smith II held in July on the 17th and 24th (4SS, Lawrence Osborn 6 3 0 66.67% G/45;d/10; $10 entry fee). See our ad in 1 5 0 16.67% Paul Anderson Chess Life! Mark McGough 4 2 2 62.50% 7 2 1 75.00% Peter Barlay Michael Smith II 4 0 0 100.00% 7 3 0 70.00% Ross Inman Paul Anderson 1 1 0 50.00% 7 2 1 75.00% Sam Bridle 1 0 0 100.00%

Page 28 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

Sara Herman 34.Be8+ Kf6 35.Bxh5 g6 36.Bg4 Ng5 31.Ke3 c3 32.Ra1 Bc5+ 33.Ke4 c2 5 1 2 75.00% 37.Rf8+ Nf7 38.c5 Kg7 39.cxd6 Ra7 34.Rf1 Rd1 35.Ke5 Rxf1 36.h4 gxh4 Scott Williams 40.Re8 Ra2 41.Bh3 Rh4 42.Kg1 Rxh3 37.g3 hxg3 38.f4 Rxf4 39.Kxe6 Kh7 2 4 0 33.33% 0–1 40.Ke5 c1Q 41.Ke6 Qe3+ 42.Kd7 Rd4+ Shirley Herman 43.Kc8 Qe7 44.Kb8 Rd8# 0–1 1 8 1 15.00% Larry Osborn (898) Tristan Cruz Ayush Vispute (1207) Grayson Harris (1002) 2 5 0 28.57% May Swiss 90 Tristan Cruz (745) William Wolf Colorado Springs / May 8, 2018 June Swiss 90 Colorado Springs / June 12, 2018 2 1 1 62.50% 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 h6 4.0–0 Nf6 5.d3 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 0–0 8.a3 Qb6 9.b4 1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 d6 5.Nf3 Larry Turner (1745) Ng4 10.Nd5 Qd8 11.bxc5 Bxa1 12.Qxa1 Nd7 6.Bg5 Bf6 7.Qd2 h6 8.Be3 e5 9.d5 Grayson Harris (1010) Nxe3 13.fxe3 dxc5 14.Qe5 Nc6 15.Qf4 b6 10.Be2 Nc5 11.b4 Nb7 12.h3 g5 Cabin Fever Reliever Be6 16.Qxh6 Qd6 17.Ng5 Qxh2+ 13.Nh2 Qe7 14.Bh5 Bd7 15.0–0 0–0–0 Colorado Springs / April 17, 2018 18.Kxh2 Rfd8 19.Qh7+ Kf8 20.Qh8# 1–0 16.a4 c5 17.Qb2 Bg7 18.Ng4 f5 19.Nh2

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 c5 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 e6 f4 20.Bd2 Nf6 21.bxc5 Nxc5 22.a5 b5 Ayush Vispute (1207) 23.cxb5 Nd3 24.Qb3 Nc5 25.Qb2 Nxh5 5.0–0 Nf6 6.c4 Bd6 7.Nc3 dxc4 8.Qa4 Shirley Herman (1105) cxd4 9.Nxd4 0–0 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bxc6 26.b6 a6 27.b7+ Nxb7 28.Rab1 Be8 May Swiss 90 29.Rfc1 Nc5 30.Qb8+ Kd7 31.Rb7+ Bd7 12.Rd1 Qc7 13.Bxd7 Nxd7 14.Nb5 Colorado Springs / May 15, 2018 Nxb7 32.Qxb7# 1–0 Qb8 15.Nxd6 Nb6 16.Qc2 Nd5 17.Nxc4 Rc8 18.b3 Nb6 19.Bf4 e5 20.Be3 Qc7 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Bc4 Bf5 5.f3 e6 6.fxe4 Bg6 7.Nf3 Bb4 8.Qd3 Scott Williams (1254) 21.Bxb6 axb6 22.Rac1 b5 23.Ne3 Qxc2 Gerardo Cruz (1214) 24.Rxc2 Rxc2 25.Nxc2 f6 26.Nb4 Kf7 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Nf6 10.Qe3 Bxe4 11.Ng5 Bxg2 12.Nxf7 Qe7 13.Rg1 Kxf7 14.Rxg2 June Swiss 90 27.Rd7+ Kg6 28.Rb7 Rc8 29.Rxb5 Kg5 Colorado Springs / June 19, 2018 30.f4+ Kg4 31.fxe5 Kf5 32.exf6+ Ke4 Nbd7 15.Ba3 Qxa3 16.Qxe6+ Kf8 33.Kf2 Rf8 34.Rb6 gxf6 35.a4 Kd4 17.Qf7# 1–0 1.e4 d6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bg4 4.Bc4 Nbd7 5.d4 c5 6.h3 cxd4 7.Ng5 e6 8.Qxd4 36.Nd3 1–0 Brian Rountree (1822) Bh5 9.0–0 e5 10.Qe3 h6 11.Nf3 a6 Michael Smith II (1617) Mark McGough (1779) 12.Be2 Nc5 13.Ne1 Bg6 14.Bf3 Ne6 Richard “Buck” Buchanan (2010) May Swiss 90 15.Nd5 Rc8 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.Qb3 Qe7 Colorado Springs / May 22, 2018 Cabin Fever Reliever 18.Be3 f5 19.exf5 Bxf5 20.Bxb7 Rc7 Colorado Springs / April 24, 2018 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 h5 4.Bc4 h4 5.d4 21.Bxa6 Bxh3 22.Bd3 Bg4 23.Bg6+ Kd8

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5 g5 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.0–0 Bxc3 8.bxc3 d6 24.Bb6 Be2 25.Bxc7+ Nxc7 26.Qb8+ 5.c3 d3 6.Qxd3 d6 7.b4 Bb6 8.b5 Nce7 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Nxg5+ Qxg5 11.Bxf4 Kd7 27.Bf5+ Ne6 28.Qb7+ Kd8 29.Qb3 9.Bb3 Nf6 10.Bb2 0–0 11.0–0 Ng6 12.c4 Qh5 12.Qd3 Kg6 13.Qc4 Nf6 14.e5 Ne8 Bxf1 30.Kxf1 g6 31.Bxe6 Qc7 32.Rd1 Nf4 13.Qd2 Ne6 14.Nc3 Nc5 15.Bc2 Be6 15.exd6 Nxd6 16.Qxc7 Nf5 17.Rae1 Nc6 Be7 33.Nf3 Rf8 34.Qd5 Qa7 35.Qc6 Qc7 16.Qe2 Re8 17.Rad1 Qc8 18.Ng5 Bg4 18.Bd2 Rh7 19.Qf4 Bd7 20.d5 Nce7 36.Qa8+ 1–0 21.c4 Rc8 22.Re4 a6 23.Rb1 b5 24.d6 19.Nf3 Qe6 20.Rfe1 Ncd7 21.Qd3 Bxf3 Joey Arispe (1216) 22.gxf3 Ne5 23.Qe2 Qh3 24.Rd3 Nxd3 Ng8 25.c5 Rxc5 26.c3 Nf6 27.Re7 Nxe7 28.dxe7 Rxe7 29.Qd6 Qe5 30.Qd3+ Bf5 Tristan Cruz (745) 25.Bxd3 Re5 26.Bc1 Ba5 27.Qe3 Rh5 June Swiss 90 28.Bb1 Qxh2+ 29.Kf1 Qh1+ 30.Ke2 Qg2 31.Qf1 Bxb1 32.Qxb1+ Qe4 33.Qb3 Rd5 34.Qb2 Rxd2 35.Qxd2 Qe3+ 36.Qxe3 Colorado Springs / June 26, 2018 31.c5 Rxc5 32.Bd2 Re8 33.Rf1 Bxc3 Rxe3 0–1 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 f6 34.Bxc3 Nd5 35.Qd3 Nf4+ 0–1 6.Bb5 Qb6 7.Bxc6+ Qxc6 8.Bf4 cxd4 Joey Arispe (1192) Shirley Herman (1091) 9.cxd4 Bb4+ 10.Nbd2 b6 11.Rc1 Qb5 Michael Smith II (1635) Gerardo Cruz (1214) 12.Qc2 Ba6 13.Qc6+ Qxc6 14.Rxc6 Bc8 May Swiss 90 June Swiss 90 15.0–0 Bd7 16.Rc7 g5 17.Be3 g4 18.Ne1 Colorado Springs / June 5, 2018 Colorado Springs / May 1, 2018 Bb5 19.Rg7 f5 20.Nc2 Bxf1 21.Nxb4

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 b6 3.Nf3 e6 4.Nbd2 Be7 1.d4 d6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 h6 4.Qb3 Nbd7 Bb5 22.Bg5 Rc8 23.Nb1 h6 24.Be3 a5 5.h3 0–0 6.e3 Nd5 7.Bh2 f5 8.Bd3 Nb4 5.Bf4 c5 6.Nf3 g5 7.Bg3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 25.a4 Be2 26.Na2 Rc2 27.Nac3 Bd3 9.Be2 Bb7 10.a3 Nd5 11.c4 Nf6 12.b4 Nc5 9.Qc2 e5 10.Nf3 Bg7 11.Rd1 Be6 28.Na3 Rxb2 29.Nab5 Bxb5 30.axb5 a4 Ne4 13.Nxe4 fxe4 14.Nd2 Bh4 15.0–0 12.Nxe5 0–0 13.b4 Na6 14.a3 Qe7 31.Rc7 Rc2 32.Nxd5 Rxc7 33.Nxc7+ Qf6 16.Bg3 d6 17.Bg4 Bg5 18.Qc2 Qg6 15.Nf3 Rfd8 16.e4 Rac8 17.Nb5 d5 Ke7 34.Na6 Kd7 35.Kf1 Ne7 36.Nb4 19.Qb3 h5 20.Bd1 Nd7 21.Bc2 Nf6 22.f3 18.Nxa7 Nxb4 19.axb4 Qxb4+ 20.Qd2 Nd5 37.Nxd5 exd5 38.Bc1 Ra8 39.Ba3 Bxe3+ 23.Qxe3 Qxg3 24.Nxe4 Bxe4 Qxd2+ 21.Rxd2 Ra8 22.Bc7 Nxe4 Ra5 40.Ke2 Rxb5 41.Kd2 Rb3 42.Bd6 a3 23.Bxd8 Nxd2 24.Nxd2 Rxd8 25.Be2 43.Kc2 a2 0–1 25.Bxe4 Rae8 26.Bc6 Re7 27.a4 Nh7 28.Bd5 Ng5 29.Kh1 c6 30.Bxc6 Nxh3 Bc3 26.Nb5 Bb4 27.Bd3 dxc4 28.Nc7 k 31.a5 Rf4 32.axb6 axb6 33.Ra8+ Kf7 Rxd3 29.Nxe6 fxe6 30.Ke2 Rxd2+

www.ColoradoChess.com Page 29 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

Tactics Time! One of the best ways to improve your game is to study tactics, such as the following, by Tim Brennan from games played by Colorado players. Answers are on the next page. www.TacticsTime.com

1. Paul Anderson - Brian Rountree 2. Brian Wall - Cory Kohler 3. J.C. MacNeil - Vivek Sarinivasan Club Chess!!, Classical Wed. / May 2018 Denver Chess Club / June 2018 Denver Chess Club / May 2018 White to move White to move White to move

4. Sulleiman Omar - Daniel Cole 5. Andrew Starr - Ben Gurka 6. Davin Yin - Richard Pugh III Denver Chess Club / May 2018 Denver Chess Club / May 2018 Colorado Class Championships / May 2018 White to move White to move Black to move

7. Eamon Montgomery - Sullivan McConnell 8. Vedanth Sampath - Akshat Jain 9. Gunnar Andersen - Sullivan McConnell Colorado Class Championships / May 2018 Denver Open / April 2018 Colorado Class Championships / May 2018 White to move Black to move Black to move

Page 30 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

Tactics Time Answers:

1. Paul featured this position in his excellent email newsletter, and it is a fun one - 28.Rxh7! Kxh7 29.Rh3#

2. 15.Qc3+ forks the king and knight.

3. 26.Rc6 skewers the queen and bishop.

4. 21.Qxe6! Black cannot recapture because of 21...fxe6 22.Bxg6#.

5. Give Andrew a gold star for finding the mate in 3 - 23.h7+ Kxh7 24.hxg6 Kg8 25.Rh8#.

6. 26...Bg5 skewers the queen and rook.

7. 22.Rxd7+ Kxd7 23.Qxb7+ Kd8 24.Qxa8+, and White mops up.

8. 30...Re3+ forks the king and bishop.

9. 31...Bc5+ forks the king and queen.

Want more original chess tactics from real games like these? Get “Tactics Time” delivered straight to your e-mail inbox for FREE! Newsletters come out 3 times a week. Sign up now for the Tactics Time e-mail newsletter at www.tacticstime.com.

k

www.ColoradoChess.com Page 31 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

UPCOMING COLORADO TOURNAMENTS

DCC July, 2018 Club Chess!! Classical Wednesdays July 3 - 31, 2018 July 4 - 25, 2018

5 Round Swiss Tournament 4 Round Swiss Tournament Time Control: G/70; d/5 Time Control: G/90; inc/30 Site: Third Christian Reform Church at 2400 S. Ash, Denver, Site: Club Chess!! Main Tournament Hall, 5625 Constitution CO 80222 Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80915 Directions: One block East of S. Colorado Blvd. on Wesley. Sections : One USCF-rated open section Please use rear entrance. Entry Fee: $20 (1/2 off online; combines with up to 25% regu- Sections: Open - U1900 - U1500 lar discount for Club Chess!! Members); includes all 4 weekly Entry Fee: DCC members $6 per night or $20 for all 5 rounds, rounds in July, a free Club Chess!! Half-Day Pass each round Non DCC members $8 or $30 for all, $2 per round discount for for non-members, and eligibility for prizes; or $6 per single children under 12. round on site with half-price Club Pass. Prizes: Based on entries. Paid the Tuesday following event by Prizes: Cash prizes per entries (1st; 2nd; U1800; U1400). check at club meeting or mailed. Registration: Anytime before 6:30pm each week. Registration: 6:15pm - 7:15pm Round Times: 6:45pm each week. Round Times: 7:30pm each Tuesday. Entries: Jesse Williams Entries: James Curtis MacNeil Phone: (719) 600-9462 Phone: (303) 883-2684 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Bye Policy: One 1/2 point bye available rounds 1,2, or 3, if re- Bye Policy (Updated): quested before being paired; Enter anytime with a first round 1/2 - Byes for round 1 may be requested at the start of round 2. point bye. - A last round bye must be requested before the start of the pe- Register Online: www.ClubChess.org nultimate round. Otherwise a last round bye will be recorded as Pairings: 6:35pm zero. - Except for the last round, players may call in a bye request for Club Chess!! Summer Sizzle Blitz any round. Only 2 byes will be allowed for non prepaid players. July 12, 2018 The player will be charged $3 for each bye. 5 Round Double Swiss Tournament - Except for the last round, players prepaid for the month will Time Control: G/5 receive a bye automatically, if not in attendance at the close of Site: Club Chess!! Main Tournament Hall, 5625 Constitution registration. Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80915 - Only one bye will count towards prize money. An unrated Sections : One USCF-rated open section players prize money is restricted to $20, unless they qualify for a Entry Fee: $10 on site (1/2 OFF ONLINE; combines with up to place prize in the Open section. 25% regular discount for Club Chess!! Members); includes all 7 An unrated players prize money is restricted to $20, unless they rounds, a free Club Chess!! Half-Day Pass for non-members, qualify for a place prize in the Open section or there is an Un- and eligibility for prizes. rated prize. No player can win a special prize and a place/class Prizes: Cash prizes per entries (1st; 2nd; under-prizes deter- prize. mined at event). Registration: Anytime before 6:30pm. July Quick Six Round Times: First round 6:45pm. July 3 - 10, 2018 Entries: Jesse Williams

6 Round Swiss Tournament Phone: (719) 600-9462 Time Control: G/24; inc/05 Email: [email protected] Site: Ballroom in the Acacia Apartment Building, 104 East Bye Policy: Byes not available. Platte, Colorado Springs, CO, 80903 Register online: www.ClubChess.org Sections: Open Pairings: 6:35pm Entry Fee: $10 (3 games / week); $5 discount for CSCC Sup- porting Members. Club Chess!! Friday Night Quick July 13, 2018 Prizes: Cash prizes will be announced at event Registration: About 6:00pm until 6:45pm each week 4 Round Swiss Tournament Round Times: 7:00pm Time Control: G/24; inc/05 Entries: Paul Anderson Site: Club Chess!! Main Tournament Hall, 5625 Constitution Phone: (719) 459-9612 SMS Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80915 Email: [email protected] Sections : One USCF-rated open section Entry Fee: $12 on site ($2 OFF ONLINE; combines with up to 25% regular discount for Club Chess!! Members); includes all 4 Page 32 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018 rounds, a free Club Chess!! Half-Day Pass for non-members, Site: Ballroom in the Acacia Apartment Building, 104 E. Platte, and eligibility for prizes; or $4 on site per single round with half Colorado Springs, CO, 80903 -price Club Pass. Sections: Open Prizes: Cash prizes per entries (1st; 2nd; under-prizes deter- Entry Fee: $10 (2 games / week); $5 discount for CSCC Sup- mined at event). porting Members. Registration: Anytime before 6:30pm Prizes: Cash prizes will be announced at event Round Times: First round 6:45pm. Registration: About 6:00pm until 6:45pm each week. Entries: Jesse Williams Round Times: 7:00pm Phone: (719) 600-9462 Entries: Paul Anderson Email: [email protected] Phone: (719) 459-9612 SMS Bye Policy: One 1/2pt bye available rounds 1,2, or 3, if request- Email: [email protected] ed before being paired. Register Online: www.clubchess.org Club Chess!! Summer Sizzle Blitz Pairings: 6:35pm July 19, 2018

5 Round Double Swiss Tournament Bughouse Birthday Bash Time Control: G/5 July 14, 2018 Site: Club Chess!! Main Tournament Hall, 5625 Constitution 5 Round Double Round Robin Tournament Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80915 Time Control: G/5 Sections : One USCF-rated open section. Site: Club Chess!! Main Tournament Hall, 5625 Constitution Entry Fee: $10 on site (1/2 OFF ONLINE; combines with up to Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80915 25% regular discount for Club Chess!! Members); includes all 7 Entry Fee: $12/team ($2 off online: Coupon Code at check-out rounds, a free Club Chess!! Half-Day Pass for non-members, is the birthday person's first name in caps - if you can guess it! and eligibility for prizes. Half-Day Club Pass included with entry for non-members. Prizes: Cash prizes per entries (1st; 2nd; under-prizes deter- Prizes: Generous cash prizes announced at event for 1st Place mined at event). Team; 2nd Place Team; 3rd Place Team; plus special prize for Registration: Anytime before 6:30pm (Byes not available). best team name (winner determined by player vote). Pairings: 6:35pm Registration: Anytime before 6:45pm. Round Times: First round 6:45pm. Pairings: 6:45pm. Entries: Jesse Williams Round Times: First round 7:00pm (each round consists of two Phone: (719) 600-9462 games, with teams switching colors). Email: [email protected] Entries: Jesse Williams Phone: (719) 600-9462 Club Chess!! Friday Night Quick Email: [email protected] July 20, 2018 Bye Policy: Byes not available. 4 Round Swiss Tournament Register Online: www.ClubChess.org Time Control: G/24; inc/05  Half-Day Club Pass included with entry. Site: Club Chess!! Main Tournament Hall, 5625 Constitution  Free bughouse instruction, 5:30pm in the newly opened Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80915 Great Hall. Sections : One USCF-rated open section  Birthday cake and ice cream compliments of Club Chess!! Entry Fee: $12 on site ($2 OFF ONLINE; combines with up to  Wacky, funny, weird, or otherwise entertaining wrapped 25% regular discount for Club Chess!! Members); includes all 4 presents (used or new) for the birthday person are encour- rounds, a free Club Chess!! Half-Day Pass for non-members, aged--it's a party! and eligibility for prizes; or $4 on site per single round with half  Special prize for best team name compliments of Club -price Club Pass. Chess!! (winner determined by player vote). Prizes: Cash prizes per entries (1st; 2nd; under-prizes deter-  Varying chess related free presentations ongoing in the Li- mined at event). brary; Registration: Anytime before 6:30pm  Prepackaged food and refreshments available. Round Times: First round 6:45pm.  Bring friends - First-time visitors are welcomed with a Club Entries: Jesse Williams Tour, refreshments, and a free Half-Day Club Pass to stay Phone: (719) 600-9462 and watch you compete. Email: [email protected]  Free chess lessons for absolute beginners. Bye Policy: One 1/2pt bye available rounds 1,2, or 3, if request- ed before being paired. July Mating Game Register Online: www.clubchess.org July 17 - 24, 2018 Pairings: 6:35pm

4 Round Swiss Tournament

Time Control: G/45;d/10

www.ColoradoChess.com Page 33 Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

Club Chess!! Summer Sizzle Blitz Phone: (719) 459-9612 July 26, 2018 Email: [email protected]

5 Round Double Swiss Tournament Club Chess!! Classical Wednesdays Time Control: G/5 August 1 - 29, 2018 Site: Club Chess!! Main Tournament Hall, 5625 Constitution Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80915 4 Round Swiss Tournament Sections : One USCF-rated open section. Time Control: G/90; inc/30 Entry Fee: $10 on site (1/2 OFF ONLINE; combines with up to Site: Club Chess!! Main Tournament Hall, 5625 Constitution 25% regular discount for Club Chess!! Members); includes all 7 Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80915 rounds, a free Club Chess!! Half-Day Pass for non-members, Sections : One USCF-rated open section and eligibility for prizes. Entry Fee: $25 (1/2 off online; combines with up to 25% regu- Prizes: Cash prizes per entries (1st; 2nd; under-prizes deter- lar discount for Club Chess!! Members); includes all 5 weekly mined at event). rounds in August, a free Club Chess!! Half-Day Pass each round Registration: Anytime before 6:30pm (Byes not available). for non-members, and eligibility for prizes; or $6 per single Pairings: 6:35pm round on site with half-price Club Pass. Round Times: First round 6:45pm. Prizes: Cash prizes per entries (1st; 2nd; U1800; U1400). Entries: Jesse Williams Registration: Anytime before 6:30pm each week. Phone: (719) 600-9462 Round Times: 6:45pm each week. Email: [email protected] Entries: Jesse Williams Phone: (719) 600-9462 Club Chess!! Friday Night Quick Email: [email protected] July 27, 2018 Bye Policy: One 1/2 point bye available rounds 1,2, or 3, if re- quested before being paired. 4 Round Swiss Tournament Register Online: www.ClubChess.org Time Control: G/24; inc/05 Pairings: 6:35pm Site: Club Chess!! Main Tournament Hall, 5625 Constitution

Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80915 Chess Academy of Denver - August Tournament Sections : One USCF-rated open section August 4, 2018 Entry Fee: $12 on site ($2 OFF ONLINE; combines with up to 25% regular discount for Club Chess!! Members); includes all 4 5 Round Swiss Tournament rounds, a free Club Chess!! Half-Day Pass for non-members, Sections : Rated and Unrated. See website for details. and eligibility for prizes; or $4 on site per single round with half Entries: Todd Bardwick -price Club Pass. coloradomasterchess.com/denver-chess-academy-summer- Prizes: Cash prizes per entries (1st; 2nd; under-prizes deter- tournaments/ mined at event). Registration: Anytime before 6:30pm CSCC August Swiss 90 Round Times: First round 6:45pm. August 7 - 28, 2018 Entries: Jesse Williams 4 Round Swiss Tournament Phone: (719) 600-9462 Time Control: G/90; inc/30 Email: [email protected] Site: Ballroom in the Acacia Apartment Building, 104 E. Platte, Bye Policy: One 1/2pt bye available rounds 1,2, or 3, if request- Colorado Springs, CO, 80903 ed before being paired. Sections: Open Register Online: www.clubchess.org Entry Fee: $10 includes 4 rounds over 4 weeks (1 game / Pairings: 6:35pm week); $5 discount for CSCC Supporting Members. $4 for one

night ($2 for CSCC Supporting Members). July One Night Quick Prizes: Cash prizes will be announced at event July 31, 2018 Registration: About 6:00pm until 6:45pm each week. 3 Round Swiss Tournament Round Times: 7:00pm Time Control: G/20;d/5 Entries: Paul Anderson Site: Ballroom in the Acacia Apartment Building, 104 E. Platte, Phone: (719) 459-9612 Colorado Springs, CO, 80903 Email: [email protected] Sections: Open Players must check-in prior to 6:45pm on the day of the round to Entry Fee: $5 (3 games); $5 discount for CSCC Supporting be paired (in person, by phone, by text, or by email). Members. Prizes: Cash prizes will be announced at event Pikes Peak Open Registration: About 6:00pm until 6:45pm each week. August 11 - 12, 2018 Round Times: 7:00pm 5 Round Swiss Tournament Entries: Paul Anderson

Page 34 www.ColoradoChess.com Volume 45, Number 3 Colorado Chess Informant July 2018

Time Control: Rounds 1-2 G/90; d/05; Rounds 3-5 G/90; Entries: Paul Anderson inc/30. Phone: (719) 459-9612 Site: Manitou Springs City Hall, 606 Manitou Ave., Manitou Email: [email protected] Springs Players must check-in prior to 6:45pm on the day of the round to Sections: Open be paired (in person, by phone, by text, or by email). Entry Fee: $40 if rec'd by 8/8, $45 at site. $5 discount for paid CSCA members (OSA). Additional $5 discount for Supporting 2018 - 2019 Summit Members of Colorado Springs Chess Club. Tournament Series #1 Prizes: Cash prizes per entries. September 29, 2018 Registration: 8:30am - 9:30am (Second day byes must be re- 5 Round Swiss Tournament quested before Round 1). Time Control: G/30; d/0 Round Times: Saturday - 10:00am, 2:30pm, 7:00pm; Site: Denver Marriott West 1717 Denver West Marriott Blvd, Sunday - 9:00am, 3:00pm. Golden, CO 80401 Entries: Richard Buchanan Directions: 12 miles west of downtown Denver via US-6 West. Address: 1 Sutherland Road, Manitou Springs, CO 80829 Sections: Phone: (719) 685 1984 Email: [email protected]  (K-3) - Kindergarten through 3rd grade  (4-6) - 4th through 6th grade Colorado Open  (7-12) - 7th through 12th grade September 1 - 2, 2018  (U1000) - Scholastic players with USCF rating under 1000  (U1400) - Scholastic players with USCF rating under 1400 5 Round Swiss Tournament  (Open) - Open to ALL ages and skills levels. Time Control: Rounds 1-2: G/90; d/5. Rounds 3-5 G/90; inc/30 Entry Fee: K-3, 4-6, 7-12, U1000 + U1400 - $25 if received by Site: 7007 S Clinton St, Greenwood Village, CO 80112. Rooms 9/22/2018 - $30 if received after 9/22/2018. available for chess players at special rate of $89 per night. Call Open - $35 if received by 9/22/2018 - $40 if received after Sheraton and mention tournament for discount. 9/22/2018. Sections: Championship Section, U1900, U1600, U1300 Prizes: 1st through 5th place trophies offered for sections: K-3, Entry Fee: Regular $50 at site, $45 in advance. CSCA member- 4-6, 7-12, U1000 + U1400 Open: 80% of entry fees - highest in ship required ($15 discount Juniors/$10 discount Seniors), other the state! states acceptable. Registration: 8:00am - 8:30am Prizes: TBD Round Times: Registration: 7:45am - 9:00am  Round 1 - 9:00am - 10:00am Bye Policy: 1/2 point byes available for Rounds 1-3 with 1 hour  Round 2 - 10:00am - 11:00am advanced notice preferred. A player may request a 0 point bye for Rounds 4 or 5.  Round 3 - 11:00am - 12:00pm Round Times: Saturday - 9:00am, 1:30pm. 5:00pm;  Lunch - 12:00pm - 12:30pm Sunday 9:00am, 4:00pm. (CSCA Membership Meeting Sunday  Round 4 - 12:30pm - 1:30pm 2:00pm).  Round 5 - 1:30pm - 2:30pm Entries: Dean Clow (Make checks payable to CSCA).  Awards - 2:45pm Address: 10200 Park Meadows Dr, #1131, Littleton, CO. 80124 Entries: Jesse Cohen Phone: (312) 914-3041 Address: 2430 W 82nd Pl. Unit 1F, Westminster, CO 80031 Email: [email protected] Phone: (720) 243-1450 Colorado Tour Event Email: [email protected] USCF Grand Prix Event Bye Policy: A half point bye may be requested for any round prior to the start of the tournament. CSCC September Swiss 90 Register online via PayPal: September 4 - 25, 2018 http://box5325.temp.domains/~summiuk7/tournaments/

4 Round Swiss Tournament For more information & additional listings on upcoming Time Control: G/90; inc/30 Colorado events, please visit the CSCA website at Site: Ballroom in the Acacia Apartment Building, 104 E. Platte, www.ColoradoChess.com. Colorado Springs, CO, 80903 Sections: Open k Entry Fee: $10 includes 4 rounds over 4 weeks (1 game / week); $5 discount for CSCC Supporting Members. $4 for one night ($2 for CSCC Supporting Members). Prizes: Cash prizes will be announced at event Registration: About 6:00pm until 6:45pm each week. Round Times: 7:00pm

www.ColoradoChess.com Page 35 “Dance of a Thousand Knives”

Jason Wycoff (1956) Brian Wall (2283) Denver Chess Club - 2018 June Tournament Round 4 / June 26, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Nc3 d6 5.h3 Bd7 6.d3 g6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Be3 Bg7 9.Qd2 a6 10.Ba4 b5 11.Bb3 Na5 12.Ne2 c5 13.c3 Nxb3 14.axb3 Be6 15.c4 b4 16.0–0 Nd7 17.Ng3 Nb8 18.Nh2 Qh4 19.Ne2 g5 20.Ng3 g4 21.Nxg4 Bxg4 22.hxg4 Qxg4 23.Qe2 Qg6 24.Nh5 Nd7 25.Ra5 0–0 26.Ng3 Bf6 27.Nf5 Bd8 28.Rfa1 Nb8 29.Qf3 Kh7 30.Rb5 Nc6 31.Rb7 Bg5 32.Bxg5 Qxg5 33.Rb6 Nd4 34.Nxd4 cxd4 35.Rxd6 a5 36.Rf6 Kg7 37.Rf5 Qd2 38.Qg3+ Kh7 39.Rh5 f6 40.Qh3 Rg8 41.Qf5+ Rg6 42.Rh3 Qxb2 43.Qd7+ Kh8 44.Ra4 Qxb3 45.Qf7 Rag8 46.Ra1 Rxg2+ 47.Kh1 R2g6 48.Rg3 R8g7 49.Qf8+ Rg8 50.Qf7 R8g7 51.Qf8+ Kh7 52.Rag1 Rxg3 53.Rxg3 Qd1+ 54.Kg2 Rxg3+ 55.fxg3 Qe2+ 56.Kh3 Qh5+ 57.Kg2 Qg6 58.c5 b3 59.Qb8 a4 60.c6 Qg4 61.c7 Qe2+ 62.Kh3 Qh5+ 63.Kg2 Qe2+ 64.Kh3 Qh5+ ½–½

Brian Wall - Jason Wycoff Renew your CSCA membership today! If your membership has or is about to expire, it is time to act!

Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone # Email:

□ Junior (under 20) ($10) Jeffrey Cohen Make checks payable to the CSCA. □ Adult (20-64) ($15) 1600 Broadway, #1660 Send payment & this completed form to: □ Senior (over 64) ($10) Denver, CO 80202